U.S. government to check background of hazmat drivers

U.S. government to check background of hazmat drivers    Truck drivers who need a new endorsement to their commercial drivers license to transport hazardous material will be required to obtain a criminal history background check by Jan. 31, 2005, the Transportation Security Administration said.
   In the meantime, the government will conduct name-based background checks on all 3.5 million hazmat drivers this year to determine whether any present a potential terrorist threat. Drivers with certain types of serious criminal offenses will be barred from hauling fuel, explosives and other dangerous goods.
   The USA Patriot Act passed in the immediate wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks included a provision for fingerprint-based checks, but implementation has taken longer than expected for TSA to set up a system to process thousands of applications through the FBI.
   Under the plan, states will issue hazmat licenses once TSA has notified them of the results of the background checks.