TWIC vs HAZMAT endorsement: which one do you need?
What a TWIC is
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential is a biometric card that TSA issues after a security threat assessment. The Maritime Transportation Security Act requires it for workers who need unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels, and most mariners licensed by the Coast Guard need one. The Coast Guard, not TSA, decides which facilities require it and how it is used at the gate. For a truck driver, that usually means pulling containers or bulk loads in and out of a port terminal.
What the HAZMAT endorsement is
The H is a CDL endorsement issued by your state. Federal rules in 49 CFR 383.141 say a state may not issue, renew, upgrade or transfer an H unless TSA has determined you do not pose a security risk, or you hold a valid TWIC. To get it you also finish ELDT HAZMAT theory and pass the state HAZMAT knowledge test. The H is what lets you drive a vehicle that requires hazmat placards. More in how to get a HAZMAT endorsement.
Same check, two credentials
Both run the security threat assessment in 49 CFR Part 1572: the same disqualifying offenses, the same immigration rules, the same fingerprints. TSA has formally decided that the HME assessment is comparable to the TWIC assessment (49 CFR 1572.5(e)(5)). That is why:
- A state can put the H on your CDL on the strength of a valid TWIC, in states that accept it. When it does, the H expires with the TWIC.
- A TWIC applicant who already holds a CDL with the H gets a reduced TWIC fee, and the new card's expiration is lined up with the H.
- An H applicant with a valid TWIC gets a reduced HME fee in the states that accept TWIC comparability.
The rule is clear on one point: a comparable assessment does not get you a free TWIC. If you need unescorted port access you still enroll for the TWIC and pay the TWIC fee.
The reduced-fee states
TSA's HAZMAT page lists the states that issue the H at the reduced rate to a TWIC holder. As of our last check, states that require at least one year left on the TWIC were Arizona, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. States that require at least four years left were Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Vermont. Lists and amounts change, so verify the current fee and your state on TSA's HAZMAT endorsement page before you enroll. We do not print the dollar amount here because it changes.
Who needs which
| Your work | TWIC | H endorsement |
|---|---|---|
| Placarded hazmat, no port work | No | Yes |
| Port drayage, no hazmat | Yes | No |
| Fuel, chemicals or gas in and out of ports | Yes | Yes |
| Tanker loads that are not hazmat | No | No (see tanker vs HAZMAT) |
If you will need both, get the one your next job needs first, then use it for the reduced fee on the second.
Neither one skips ELDT
A TWIC proves TSA cleared you. It does not prove you learned the hazmat rules. For a first HAZMAT endorsement, federal rules require ELDT HAZMAT theory from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry before the state knowledge test, and the state cannot give you that test until the training is in the registry. That applies whether you take the TSA check through the HME program or carry a TWIC. Our theory takes about 45 minutes and is filed the same day. The TSA appointment itself is covered in how to do the TSA background check for HAZMAT.
Questions drivers ask
I have a TWIC. Do I still need the TSA check for HAZMAT?
In a state that accepts TWIC comparability, the state can issue the H based on your valid TWIC and TSA charges a reduced rate. In other states you go through the regular HME assessment. Check your state on TSA's HAZMAT page.
I have the H. Do I need a TWIC to enter a port?
If the facility requires a TWIC for unescorted access, yes. The H does not substitute for the card. You enroll for the TWIC at the reduced rate.
Does the TWIC replace ELDT HAZMAT theory?
No. ELDT is a training requirement, not a security check. A first H needs theory from a registered provider no matter which TSA path you use.
How long is each one good for?
TSA says the HME assessment is generally renewed every five years, and some states renew more often. An H issued on a TWIC expires with the TWIC. Check your state for the exact dates.
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