Okay, everyone, thank you for joining us for module eight, which talks about the TWIC card. With this particular card, we will discuss the benefits of the driver having one and the types of loads that are available or accessible to the driver when he has his TWIC card identification. So let's jump into it. So TWIC cards. The Transportation Worker Identification Credential, also known as TWIC or a TWIC card, is required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act for workers who need access to secure areas of the nation's maritime facilities and vessels. TSA, which is Transportation Security Act, conducts a security threat assessment, a.k.a. a background check, to determine a person's eligibility and issues the credential, meaning issues the TWIC card. U.S. citizens and immigrants in certain immigration categories may apply for the credential or the card. Most mariners licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard also require a credential. So in layman's terms, guys, what all this means is that, you know, you have ports throughout the country. And in order to access those ports to pick up loads, you have to have what is called a TWIC card. Without a TWIC card, you will not be allowed on any of these ports, okay? The only way you would be allowed on a port to pick up a loan without a TWIC card is with a escort, okay? And trust me, you don't want to go through all that hassle. It's just much better if you or if your driver takes the time to apply for and get a TWIC card. So with TWIC cards, you do have to meet certain eligibility, as it discusses here. You cannot be a felon, okay? You have to pretty much have a clean background. Now, in that event, if you're dealing with a driver that does not have a clean background, then yes, if he was to pick up a load from the port, ultimately, he would have to have an escort in order to do that. In the event that your driver needs a escort, you would then have to recruit a TWIC escort service. And yes, that is something that you would have to pay for. That's basically somebody that has the permission to escort your driver onto the port in order for them to pick up the load. But trust me, by the time you've paid for that service, it's probably not going to be worth even picking up the load. Again, if your driver has the means and is eligible to have a TWIC card, by all means, I would encourage your driver to get one. Let's talk about the benefits of having a TWIC card. A TWIC card is going to first and foremost offer you more job opportunities. Being eligible for more job opportunities that require a TWIC card, that means that if you're looking at loads out on a load board for your driver and you have to have a TWIC card to pick up that load, It is an option for him versus people that don't have TWIC cards won't be eligible for that, okay? So, you know, plain and simple, it gives your driver more options for loads, okay? And next thing, identification. You can use your TWIC card at the airport and other places that require forms of ID. So it's always nice just to have an extra form of identification that never hurts anybody, right? Third, you're going to get better and higher paying jobs with a TWIC card. The more credentials you have in places you can deliver, the more money you can make. So obviously, because everybody, every driver does not have a TWIC card, brokers and shippers are going to be willing to pay a little more for those type of loads because there is a limited amount of people that can pick up those type of loads. So obviously you're going to get more bang for your buck on loads that have to be picked up from the port. So again, this is another reason why drivers should definitely have a TWIC card if they qualify to have one. Last but not least, it makes you appear to be trustworthy. It shows new employers that you're trustworthy and reputable, okay? This is what it shows drivers to be that are eligible for one. Obviously, if they have one, that means they have a clean background, you know, which means that they are deemed to be an overall good citizen, okay? So you can never go wrong with having a TWIC card. For me, the biggest benefit of that is obviously the extra money, right? Let's just be honest. So having a TWIC card is definitely a good thing. So now, obviously, you don't need to know how to apply for a TWIC card. That's more so for your driver to know. But you being the amazing dispatcher that I know you're going to become and or broker, I just figure I will give you this information to pass along to a driver or to your potential driver in case this is something he wants to get. You can pass the information along to him, okay? So it's very easy to apply for a TWIC card. But first and foremost, you need to know it does take a pretty decent amount of time to get It's going to take anywhere from eight to twelve weeks. So you just want to have that heads up to give to your driver. Look, if you want a tweet card, go ahead and start the process now because it takes a minute. OK, so knowing that you are going to first understand that you have to be a U.S. citizen. and with no conviction. So basically, you need to confirm your eligibility. Now, you do have to be a U.S. citizen, but in certain circumstances, immigrants with certain types of special credentials can also potentially apply for the card as well. Bottom line, you just need to confirm your eligibility in order to find out if you qualify, okay? Next, you would need to go online and apply for your TWIC card. You would do that on a website called Universal Enroll. You just Google that and it should come right up. You're going to start the process. of filling out your application online. And it'll also probably give you the information you need to confirm whether or not you are eligible for the TWIC card. After you have filled out your application online, you're going to schedule an appointment. And after your appointment is set, the day of your appointment, you will go to a quick enrollment center to complete the application process. And again, this is something that you can find online. where the enrollment centers are it may also be on the universal enrolled website okay but again this is something that you don't necessarily need to know but just again being the awesome dispatcher that you're going to come become once we are done with this course this is just information that you can pass along to a driver that you dispatch for in the future that doesn't have one but may want to get one okay so that is going to conclude the end of this section As always, thank you for your time and I will see you in the next chapter. All right, guys. So that is in a nutshell is what the twit card is and the advantages to having one. Drivers who have the TWIC card are able to go on to military bases. They're able to drive on to ports of entry without having to obtain an escort service. And it opens up the different variety of loads that you're able to get. And also, the TWIC card helps in personal. in a driver's personal affairs or business as well. Like if he wants to take a flight, he's able to go through express checkout lanes because they do a very thorough background check on a driver in order for him to have a twit card. Now the twit card is not, um, forever ending piece of identification that you have it does have a expiration date and you have to renew it and you have to uh recertify yourself so if there's any issues that have come up in your personal life between the time you had a twit card and the time you apply for your new card then that might be an issue in your renewal but uh for the driver it's a very beneficial thing to have we're able to offer them a more variety type of loads if they have a TWICard. Any questions? All right, that will end the module on TWICard.