Applicants for Transportation Worker Identification Credentials will pay slightly less starting Monday, March 19, and a more significant fee reduction recently kicked in for certain TWIC holders seeking a hazardous materials endorsement.
Following its last cost review, the FBI announced it would lower the fee for a fingerprint-based criminal history records information check. The Transportation Security Administration cut its TWIC application fee by $2.75 to $14.50 because the CHRI charge is part of the TWIC enrollment cost. TWIC holders who enrolled before March 19, which includes more than 352,000 truck drivers, will not receive a refund.
On Feb. 27, TSA began reducing its fee for certain TWIC holders who applied for a Hazardous Materials Endorsements Comparable Security Threat Assessments (HMESTA) from $89.25 to $67. Applicants must fill out the HME STA application online or over the phone to confirm TWIC STA validity and that one year or more remains before TWIC expiration.
However, state statutes, license cycles and system limitations currently prevent most states from offering the lower price of $67; the only jurisdictions where this decreased fee now is available are Arizona, Nebraska, California, North Carolina, Delaware, Oregon, District of Columbia, South Dakota, Hawaii, Utah, Missouri and West Virginia. As the remaining states begin to offer comparability, qualified applicants will see a reduced HME STA fee.
