TWIC Walk ins. No appointment?

Not sure about the office where you are, but the one here takes appointments first. Walk-ins go to the back of the line. You MIGHT get in, but you could be in for a long wait if they are booked up. Although I went to the office to change my PIN a few weeks ago, and the only thing I waited for was the guy in the office to finish up his personal phone call.

 

Here, I too needed an appointment. But when I got there, the room was nearly empty, so if a walk-in came in, I am sure he would have to wait till the appointments got taken care of first.

In other news, I only have my TWIC card since it came out a few years ago. I really have NO NEED for another one, thusly, I will save all the extra hard earned cash for yet another stupid background check.

I would highly suggest that anyone thinking about getting this useless card, had better check with the employer first, and see if it IS REQUIRED by them, and if so, do they reimburse you.

I never got reimbursed, and I DO NOT NEED another TWIC, so I will not be doing that crap all over again.

One can ALWAYS apply for a TWIC card at a later time, if switching employers that REQUIRE such a useless POS card.

 

I got mine a couple of years ago when I had to work on some equipment that was being stored at the port in NY prior to shipment. I would say that it's never a bad thing to hold as many credentials as you can. That way you're at the front of the line when faced with an opportunity that requires it.

 

what is a "TWIC" card?....

 

Transportation Workers Identification Card. It is a revenue generation card that is required by most ports for entry. In other words, if you don't have the card then you don't get into the port. It is pricey. The cost is $135 unless you have the hazmat endorsement and then the price drops to $105, I believe. Anyone who works at an airport, power plant or picks up at a port is required to have the TWIC. When I got mine, there were several people who worked at the airport and a couple who were construction workers on power plants. It is also required to pick up or deliver to some shippers who do business internationally. This card will not provide any more information than the police could not find out from running your drivers license. Nevertheless, it is required in some instances. Some ports also require drivers to also have their card, such as New York and New Jersey ports. It costs $25 but you must already have the TWIC. It is all a big scam, but you either play their game or stay away from those places that require it. If you pull a dry van you may never need it.

 

Well, unless IT IS NEEDED by the employer you work for, why spend the money?? As I said, you can always get one LATER if it is required. I have found over the years, that TOO MUCH makes one OVER QUALIFIED and not necessarily any more valuable than one who is not as qualified, meaning, the employer can find cheaper labor.

That's all it amounts to. Why for instance does it require another background check like the hazmat background check?? Is there going to be any MORE information about one from one check to the other?? I think not, and it is called "sharing information" which if our guberment would do so with-in the different branches, we would have NO NEED for spending all that money.

 

Lockheed Martin contracts with the feds to do most of the background checks for both the TWIC and hazmat endorsement. Yet, they can't seem to share information between two computer systems. My guess is that they all go to the same computer system, but they charge twice for the same background check. I would not spend the money on the TWIC unless it was actually required or needed by the company for whom you plan on working. It doesn't take that long to get one after you apply. Save your money until you actually need it. The only reason that I got one is because I lost several loads coming out or going into the ports. Not all ports will allow escorts. If you do have to pay an escort then you could have bought the TWIC for less than what it would normally cost for a couple of escorts. Some carriers do require the hazmat. You are more likely to need the hazmat endorsement than the TWIC, at least if you pull a van.

 

Friday afternoon in January, Newark, NJ.

FM: "Hey Giz, Sorry about keeping you in the northeast all week. I've finally got a load that will get you out of there. It's hazmat, picking up in Newark and delivering to the port in Galveston on Monday evening. You'll need your TWIC to access the port."

Gizmo_Man: "I... uh... don't have a TWIC"

FM: "Oh, sorry to hear that. Well, enjoy your weekend in Newark, might have a load for you on Monday morning."

How ya feel now since you put off getting that TWIC (and hazmat)? Just sayin...

 

Uh, when one applies for a job, is when it is mentioned that no TWIC card exists. So what'e yer point??

You seriously think that they would not have another load??