Want to ensure you and your truck have the possibility of year round, steady business in the produce trucking industry? Well, drivers with TWIC cards operating trucks that are port compliant greatly increase those chances! A lot of year round produce trucking business relies on the import and export of fruits and vegetables from various ports around the United States. Bananas from Ecuador and Guatemala arrive daily into California ports, and this is just one example of this type of business, that UWC is involved in on a year round basis.
TWIC, a review:
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is named as a vital security measure that ensures individuals who pose a threat do not gain access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system. TWIC cards are tamper resistant, biometric credentials that are issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities, and all credentialed merchant mariners. Individuals who meet TWIC eligibility requirements (must be a US citizen or fall into an eligible immigration category, cannot have been convicted of certain crimes, cannot be connect to terrorist activity, and cannot lack mental capacity) will be issued a tamper-resistant credential containing the worker’s biometric (by way of fingerprint template) to allow for a positive link between the card and the individual.
A TWIC card is valid for five years. The cost of the card is $132.50 US. For more information on eligibility and the enrollment process, visit the TWIC website!
PORT COMPLIANCE, a review:
Port compliance is a heated industry topic, that is more an issue in the State of California than any other. In order to gain access to the ports in California, there are two compliance issues that are at work. There is a Drayage (port or rail yard) truck rule, and the TRU (Transportation Refrigeration Unit) rule that apply.
Drayage trucks are defined as on road-heavy duty diesel fueled class 7 and class 8 (GVW > 26,000lbs) trucks transporting port or rail yard cargos in California. The regulation applies to all drayage trucks, regardless of the state or country of origin or frequency of visit. In general, this regulation requires emission reductions from drayage trucks as well as vehicle registration in the California State operated Drayage Truck Registry (DTR). Find more information by looking at the California EPA’s Drayage Truck Fact Sheet and info on how to register your truck by looking at the Drayage Truck Registry Fact Sheet!!!!
TRU (Transport Refrigeration Unit) rule applies to in-use diesel fueled TRUs and TRU generator sets that operate in the state of California, whether they are registered in our outside the State. California-based reefers were required to register with ARB by July 31, 2009 or within 30 days of a new or used unit entering a carrier’s control. California terminal operators that operate TRUS were also required to submit Operator Reports by July 31, 2009 and provide updates within 30 days of changes to any information. Enforcement of both these requirements began on August 2009. The first deadline for in-use performance standards for 2001 and older engines was December 31, 2008. Model year 2001 engines were required to comply by December 31, 2009. Enforcement of in-use performance standard began in January 2001. Subsequent model year engines must comply with in-use standards by December 31st of the seventh year after the engine model year. Find more information by looking at the California EPA’s Transport Refrigeration Unit Brochure and info on how to register by looking at the TRU Registration website!!!
Increase your likelihood of steady year round business! Get TWIC and Port Compliant now, and let us know you are!
References:
Port of Hueneme – Oxnard Harbor District & Transportation Security Administration. TWIC Program. www.portofhueneme.org/documents/twic_program.pdf. Accessed on Sept. 8, 2011.
Useful links for Regulations. http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/truckstop/azregs/azregs.php. Accessed on Sept 8, 2011.
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