New security program not seen causing port delays

Dec 31, 2008 | 06:29 AM | Corinna Petry

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration's (TSA's) new Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program—which requires port workers and visitors such as truck drivers to have a biometric, chip-imbedded identification card to enter—is not expected to delay inbound or outbound metals shipments, industry sources say.

However the lack of any immediate impact is due mainly to the fact that there are so few loads of steel and aluminum being shipped these days, and some truckers have complained about long lines and rising costs associated with the program.

"If business were better for metals, I think you would see shipments delayed because not all the carriers have their TWICs yet," a sales executive for a Southern trucking company said. "Because metals imports and exports are down, it won't be as much of a problem as anticipated."....