U.S. haz-mat truckers face heightened background checks

The Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Agency recently heightened security precautions for truck drivers. A new mandate states that U.S. truckers applying to renew their hazardous-materials (haz-mat) driver’s licenses must now undergo fingerprint-based background checks. David Mitchell, director of risk control, Aon (NYSE:AOC) Risk Service’s trucking group, acknowledges this process may become more complex and costly, but notes most companies are helping drivers handle additional costs.”A recent survey of a nationwide trucking association showed that almost 30% of fleets are paying for the licensing cost, and another 30 percent are paying part of the cost,” Mitchell says.