ATA supports MTMC's new carrier qualification.

The nation's top trucking association is praising the Military Traffic Management Command for its new, streamlined freight carrier qualification program.

The American Trucking Association was briefed on the Web-based program July 9.

"This is pretty straight forward; I don't see a down side," said Paul Bomgardner, Director of the association's hazardous materials transportation safety and operations.

The new process, which begins Sept. 15, slashes a number of steps. The application for a carrier to move military freight has been reduced from 18 pages to one.

The time to process an application has plummeted from 21 days to 48 hours.

Previously qualified carriers must register in the new system by Oct. 25. MTMC will work with the carriers to meet the deadline, said Rick Wirtz, traffic management specialist.

The association's members seem to regard the changes as non-controversial to their current process, said Bomgardner.

Many association carriers have gone through the lengthy qualification process and continue to maintain those standards to remain approved, he said.

"It's important to get the carriers' input first, by allowing them the opportunity to say their piece," said Bomgardner.

Carriers are no longer required to submit a mountain of paperwork in the application, said Wirtz.

The old system required numerous attachments, including a safety fitness rating and certified financial statements.

Performance bonds will now be accepted electronically, said Wirtz.

"The bond requirement will continue to help eliminate high-risk carriers," he said.

There is a requirement, said Tom Hicks, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, to publish a notice for moving the application requirements to the Military Freight Traffic Rules Publication 1-B, a MTMC document outlining the rules for motor freight carriers doing business with the Department of Defense.