TWIC cards will now enable Hazmat endorsements

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has released a statement that said it applauded the Transportation Security Administration “for taking the long overdue, but important, step” to allow drivers who hold a Transportation Worker Identification Credential to also obtain a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) endorsement on their license without an additional security threat assessment or associated fee.

Dan Horvath, ATA Vice President of Safety Policy, said: “The announcement by TSA that they will now allow drivers with a TWIC to more quickly and easily receive a hazmat endorsement eliminates costly and duplicitous background checks for drivers. ATA has long urged federal agencies to eliminate these redundant background checks for drivers, notably the TWIC/HME issue.”

In 2018, ATA, along with National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the issuance of a hazardous materials endorsements. In these comments, ATA and NTTC urged the agency to modify the requirements on states for issuing HMEs to align with federal law. Specifically, ATA and NTTC requested the agency acknowledge language in the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2018, which explicitly empowers states to issue HMEs to drivers who already hold a valid TWIC. 

ATA and NTTC also requested that FMCSA issue guidance to the states regarding the best method to ascertain whether a TWIC is valid.

Horvath added: “We appreciate TSA making this common sense change, a change that will keep our highways safe while reducing the administrative burden on drivers and costs to our industry.”

For more information visit www.trucking.org

13th March 2020