TSA won’t meet deadline for truck driver fingerprinting

The latest in missed security legislation deadlines comes from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The TSA now says it will not meet the November 3, 2003 deadline to begin conducting fingerprint background checks for drivers certified to haul hazardous materials. (To date, this requirement only applies to U.S. drivers, not Canadian drivers.)

This is one of a series of new requirements that the U.S. has implemented since September 11, 2001. An estimated 3.2 million drivers in the U.S. currently haul hazardous materials, while some 5 million drivers hold certifications on their commercial drivers’ licenses to do so.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is amending its Interim Final Rule that establishes standards for security threat assessments of individuals in the US applying for, renewing or transferring a hazardous materials endorsement for a commercial driver’s license. States now have until April 1, 2004, to begin taking driver fingerprints and the deadline may be extended until Dec. 1, 2004 upon application by a state to the TSA.

TSA also indicated that discussions with Canada and Mexico would continue regarding background check requirements for foreign hazmat drivers.

A few weeks ago, U.S. Customs announced it would not meet its own October 1 deadline for pre-notification standards. It may be the end of the year or early next year before those standards are in place.