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Bill would make hazmat endorsement cheaper
By eTrucker Staff
U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-Mo., has introduced H.R. 1079, the Professional Driver Background Check Efficiency Act, which would put a $50 cap on the cost to truckers of the hazardous material endorsement.
The cost of the current endorsement varies but is typically $94 per driver.
H.R. 1079 also would allow the federal Transportation Security Agency to reimburse states for the costs of hazmat background checks, a requirement that Carnahan calls an unfunded mandate.
Two background-check provisions introduced by Carnahan in the previous Congress were signed into law as part of the SAFE Port Act. The provisions say that drivers who already passed a hazmat background check need no additional check for port clearance; and that the Government Accountability Office should report to Congress on any duplication of federal background checks and make recommendations to increase efficiency.
"This is a classic example of unnecessary government redundancy," Carnahan said. "I am proud that two provisions of my previous bill have been signed into law, and I look forward to passing this bill to make government more efficient and reduce the financial burden placed on professional drivers."
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