TRB’s Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP) Report 6 discusses the feasibility of consolidating several existing security credentials, which are necessary under current regulations and policies, into one credential for all transportation modes. The report evaluates the credentialing system to identify duplicative elements and redundant costs and describes the acquisition process, the application elements, and the physical characteristics for each identified credential. In addition, the report identifies the elements of the vetting processes for each credential. The report includes an examination of four options for consolidation, which provides insight into the basic elements of a universally recognized security credential for HazMat transportation workers. HMCRP Report 6 also identifies key challenges for consolidation of security credentials, such as impetus and authority, organizational climate, financing, risk, and technological trending. An alternative method of consolidating background checks is identified as a possible intermediate solution for removing duplicative processes and redundant costs. A PowerPoint presentation, which summarizes the report process and conclusions, is available for download at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/hmcrp/hmcrp_rpt_006.pptx. (Author/publisher)
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