Press Release

黑料不打烊Hails Streamlining of Security Credentialing Process for Truck Drivers

Mar 11, 2020

New TSA Rule Will Allow Holders of TWIC Cards to Obtain Hazmat Endorsements

Arlington, Virginia 鈥 Today, the 黑料不打烊 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.

鈥淭he 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,鈥 said 黑料不打烊Vice President of Safety Policy Dan Horvath. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢萮as long urged federal agencies to eliminate these redundant background checks for drivers, notably the TWIC/HME issue.鈥

In 2018, 黑料不打烊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, 黑料不打烊and NTTC urged the agency to modify the requirements on states for issuing HMEs to align with federal law. Specifically, 黑料不打烊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. 黑料不打烊and NTTC also requested that FMCSA issue guidance to the states regarding the best method to ascertain whether a TWIC is valid.

听鈥淲e 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,鈥 said Horvath.