TWIC ESCORT SERVICE

PORT OF HOUSTON FACILITIES

CITY DOCKS: $125 first hour (minimum*) + $50 per hour additional time

BARBOURS CUT TERMINAL: $150 first hour (minimum*) + $50 per hour additional time

BAYPORT TERMINAL: $150 first hour (minimum*) + $50 per hour additinal time

CASH OR CREDIT CARD** ONLY (NO COMCHECK OR EFS ACCEPTED)

*minimum charge due prior to start of escort, additional time to be charged prior to departure from terminal

**credit cards subject to 3.5% service charge

TWIC ESCORT SERVICE AGREEMENT AND REFUND POLICY 

Harbor Express Services has set for the following policy regarding refunds when providing TWIC Escorts at all terminals. 

The customer is responsible for Harbor Express Services minimum trip charge* and 1-hour minimum time or the length of stay (charged in 15-minute increments) whichever is greater. The time for our standby rates begins and ends upon our employee’s arrival at the property and will continue until our employee leaves the property. 

The customer is responsible for our charges regardless of whether the customer is allowed or able to pick up or deliver their load or not. It is the responsibility of the customer to obtain permission from the terminal for Harbor Express Services to provide the TWIC Escort at the appointed time the escort is required regardless of whether Harbor Express Services has been approved to provide escorts at a specific terminal in the past. 

Once a Harbor Express Services escort has arrived on property, the customer is responsible for the minimum charges owed and/or the full standby rates owed even if a terminal cancel, disallows, or fails to load or unload the truck. It is the responsibility of the customer to make sure that the trucker has all paperwork required to pick up or deliver their load. If the escort is required to standby for paperwork, our standby rate will be incurred. 

Once our employee arrives on site, our charges are due, and no refund will be offered for any reason. 

Harbor Express Services will act as a TWIC ESCORT ONLY. Harbor Express is in no way an agent, broker, guide, or liaison between the customer and the port management.

Any refunds offered by Harbor Express Services will be at the digression of management and are not guaranteed expressly or otherwise. 

 Harbor Express Services, Inc. offers escorts for all persons who do not carry a TWIC Card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). The US Department of Homeland Defense required that anyone entering a port facility either have a TWIC card or be escorted by a person who has been trained and certified by the facility to escort a non TWIC holder at all times while in the secure area of the port facility. 

Effective April 15, 2009 the TWIC program aims to increase security at US Seaports by utilizing a common identification credential for transportation workers and ensuring that individuals who pose a threat do not gain access to secure areas of the maritime transportation system. All applicants for the TWIC card must pass a threat assessment conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which looks at criminal background, immigrant status, terrorist watch list screening as well as mental health.

Escort services include, but are not limited to commercial truck drivers, surveyors, freight forwarders, insurance representatives, importer/exporters who need to examine cargo operations, vessel crew.

As per the US Coast Guard, "escorting" means ensuring continuous accompaniment for the escorted individuals while within a secure/restricted area in a sufficient manner to observe said individuals while engaging in activities other than which the escorted access was granted.