STARTER CARDS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS

In addition to the normal Alfapass trucker card, a “starter card” concept has been developed in consultation with the transport sector. This card is given to new drivers under the transport company’s responsibility and supervision and remains valid for NO MORE THAN 3 months for each driver. The objective of this “starter card” is to ensure that new drivers are given a card fairly quickly so that they can carry out their tasks in the port without any problems. In the meantime, the driver concerned has 3 months to request a permanent card. Starter cards can be transferred from one driver to another, provided that certain regulations are met. These regulations are described below and must be strictly observed. If drivers use the starter card inappropriately, it will be withdrawn. The transport company is fully responsible for the administration of the starter card(s).

PROCEDURE AND CONDITIONS FOR REQUESTING STARTER CARDS

Your company can request starter cards on the condition that:

• Your company is active in the transport sector.
• You are already an Alfapass customer and at least one contact in your company has a personal login.
• You already have one active trucker card in use. The number of starter cards can be increased up to 10% of the number of active trucker cards in your company. For every 10 active cards, you are therefore entitled to one starter card.
• You are actively responsible for the operational administration of all cards’ identification data. In other words, if a card is internally transferred, you must enter the personal details of the new driver in the Alfapass customer application in advance.

STARTER CARDS

The starter card rates are:

• one-off charge:  € 35,-
• annual subscription: € 30,-

If you log on to the Alfapass customer application as a registered user, you can request a card by selecting the menu option “starter cards”. Follow the instructions on the screen. As you log on, the screen will immediately show you how many cards you can still request.

If you are a customer without any registered users in the Alfapass application, click here to request your personal login.

PROCEDURE FOR THE VERY FIRST ACTIVATION OF A STARTER CARD FOR TRUCKERS

When you receive the e-mail confirming that the new starter card can be collected, your company should initialise the administration of the card. This is described in the next paragraph. Every new driver can use the starter card for no more than 3 months. He will then need to switch to a personalised Alfapass card, which your company can request during the starter card period. The used starter card can be internally passed on to a next starter.

You can only initialise the administration of the card in the Alfapass customer application. You should go to the “starter cards” section and enter the identification data of the driver/work placement student who will be temporarily using the card.

The new driver can now collect the new card at the Antwerp Alfapass issue station (Hesse-Noord Natie nv administration building), Quay 702, Blauwhoefstraat 25, 2040 Antwerp or at the Zeebrugge Alfapass issue station (APZI 1st floor), Doverlaan 7, 8380 Zeebrugge. The Antwerp office is continuously open every weekday from 8 a.m. to 3.45 p.m. The Zeebrugge office is open on all weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The card will be manufactured there and then. It will clearly show that it is a starter card. When the card is collected, the starter’s biometric data (hand scan) will be put on the new card. From then on, the starter card is fully linked to the driver’s identity for regular use at the Port Facilities.

When the driver collects the new starter card, he should carry his identity card or passport (no driving licence!!). Both the driver’s identity and the correspondence to his administrative human resources details entered previously will be checked. It is therefore extremely important that the new driver collecting the card is the same as the one whose administrative data were entered in the system. If his identity does not correspond to the system’s administrative data, the biometric personalisation will not be completed and Alfapass will temporarily set the card’s status to “inactive”. As soon as the card requester rectifies the situation, the driver can present himself again for verification so that the card can be reactivated.

STARTER CARD REACTIVATION PROCEDURE AFTER A CARD’S INTERNAL TRANSFER

Whenever the card is transferred, your company should enter the correct identification data of the new starter IN ADVANCE. The card requester (transport company) is fully responsible for the administration of the card. The administration should be permanently updated. Any neglect in this respect will be considered as inappropriate use of the card and may result in the card’s withdrawal.

UNTILthe new driver has presented himself at one of the below Alfapass issue stations to have his biometric data stored on the card, it is not allowed or even possible to use the card. From then on, the starter card is fully linked to the driver’s identity for regular use at the Port Facilities. Any neglect in this respect shall also be seen as inappropriate use of the card and may result in the card’s withdrawal.

The new driver can ONLY have his biometric data stored at the Antwerp Alfapass issue station (Hesse-Noord Natie nv administration building), Quay 702, Blauwhoefstraat 25, 2040 Antwerp or at the Zeebrugge Alfapass issue station (APZI 1st floor), Doverlaan 7, 8380 Zeebrugge. The Antwerp office is continuously open every weekday from 8 a.m. to 3.45 p.m. The Zeebrugge office is open on all weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

When a driver has his biometric data stored on the starter card, he should present the card itself and his identity card or passport (no driving licence!!). Both the driver’s identity and the correspondence to his administrative human resources details entered previously will be checked. If his identity does not correspond to the entered administrative data, the biometric personalisation will not be completed and Alfapass will temporarily set the card’s status to “inactive”. As soon as the card requester rectifies the situation, the driver can present himself again with the card for verification so that the card can be reactivated.

IMPORTANT REMARK

Like normal trucker cards, starter cards then need to be activated by the Port Facilities according to the prescribed procedure. If inappropriate use of the card is observed (e.g. incorrect administrative or biometric identity), the Port Facilities retain the right to temporarily or permanently withdraw the card. The Port Facility decides on this procedure. Information in this respect can only be obtained from the Port Facility. Alfapass is unable to provide any assistance in this matter.

OBLIGATIONS REGARDING STARTER CARD USE

A) FOR THE CARD REQUESTER (transport company)  

• The starter card procedure comes into effect on the strict condition that the transport company is responsible for (supervising) the cards’ administration.
  In practice, this means that the card requester (transport company) has to permanently update the drivers’ correct identification data for all starter cards. If the card is transferred, the card requester shall enter the new driver’s data IN ADVANCE, before the new driver presents himself at an issue station with his starter card to have his biometric data stored.
• A starter card can be allocated to one and the same driver for up to 3 months. The transport company shall therefore ensure that a final trucker card is requested well in time.

B) FOR THE CARD HOLDER (driver) 

• All drivers must FIRST present themselves to an Alfapass issue station to have their biometric data stored before they can use the card at a Port Facility.
• Drivers should have their starter cards activated at the security desk during their first visit to a terminal (for more details, please also read the user instructions and list of associated Port Facilities).