The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program has been amended to include commercial drivers licensed in Canada or Mexico so that they may transport hazardous materials in the United States, according to information published September 28 in the Federal Register.
The Department of Homeland Security through its agency, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), and the Coast Guard issued the final rule, effective September 28. The rule contains amendments to provisions of a previously issued final rule. According to the information, the amendments were established to allow for greater participation in the TWIC program and codify final fees to obtain a TWIC.
The reference to commercial drivers in Canada and Mexico allows them to be regulated under provisions of 49 CFR Part 1572. Those regulations require credentialed merchant mariners and individuals (drivers) with unescorted access to secure areas of vessels and facilities to undergo a security threat assessment and receive a TWIC, a biometric credential.
The final standard fee for a TWIC is $132.50 and the reduced TWIC fee for applicants who have completed a comparable threat assessment, such as truck drivers with commercial licenses, is $105.25, according to the information. To replace a TWIC credential will cost from $36 to $60.