California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

For the past year, I have been trying to figure out how so many Hispanic drivers that can barely speak English have been able to secure a TWIC card in order to work in the San Pedro Harbor Complex (LA/Long Beach).  Recently I stumbled on the answer.  The Transportation Security Administration Officials that came out to our facility to process about 140 of our drivers, accepted as proof of citizenship from our drivers, a Drivers License and their Medical Examiner’s Certificate form DL5IA(Rev 6/2002).

As most experienced drivers will agree, the Medical Examiner Certificate card is one of the most counterfeited documents in our industry.  A copy of the long form DL51A (Rev 9/2008) was not even required by the TSA.  That form at least provides a space for a doctors’ office to stamp with a phone number.  The DL51A (Rev 6/2002) short form card has neither.

As a young man back in the 60’s, it was common for us to fill out each other’s Medical Examiner Certificate cards so the signatures would look different.  This was usually done after having four or five cups of coffee at the Texaco Terminal Truck Stop in Fresno. My little brother was the best at this forgery.  His scribbled signature looked like the real thing.  I should have realized that scrawl of his was the mark of a future successful $50-million a year truck broker.

While I do not know for a fact how many Medical Examiner Certificates are forged, what difference does it make if it’s done by a real doctor or not?  Doctors do not treat drivers for lack of citizenship – only medical problems.

TSA should get real and demand birth certificates, passports, etc. as the criteria needed for proving citizenship and the right to work in a high security environment.