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New TSA Rule Will Allow Holders of TWIC Cards to Obtain Hazmat Endorsements
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Arlington, Virginia – Today, the �Ͼ�Ʒ�� 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 endorsement on their license without an additional security threat assessment or associated fee.

“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,” said �Ͼ�Ʒ�� Vice President of Safety Policy Dan Horvath. “�Ͼ�Ʒ�� has long urged federal agencies to eliminate these redundant background checks for drivers, notably the TWIC/HME issue.”

In 2018, �Ͼ�Ʒ�� along with National Tank Truck Carriers, submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the issuance of a hazardous materials endorsements. As part of these comments, �Ͼ�Ʒ�� and NTTC urged the agency to modify the requirements on states for issuing HMEs to align with federal law. Specifically, �Ͼ�Ʒ�� 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. �Ͼ�Ʒ�� and NTTC also requested that FMCSA issue guidance to the states regarding the best method to ascertain whether a TWIC is valid.

��“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,” said Horvath.