California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) published a Notice of Exemption on June 19, 2012 in the Federal Register that will save tens of thousands of truckers both time and money extending their current Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).

In the wake of the attacks on 9-11, Congress passed the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 that established regulations requiring all individuals requiring unescorted access to secure areas of certain vessels and port facilities to undergo a security threat assessment (STA) and receive a biometric credential. The STA consists of a criminal, immigration and terrorism background check. 

Getting a TWIC is a costly process in both terms of time spent away from work and the credential’s cost of $129.75.

he Notice of Exemption will grant relief that eliminates unnecessary trips to an enrollment center and significantly reduces the cost for approximately 380,000 truckers and draymen nationally whose current credential might expire before December 31, 2014.

The program has been the focus of government oversight hearings because of delays in rolling out card reader technology and instead, the TWIC has been used as a “flashcard” to gain access to the nation’s ports.  Additionally, certain military facilities in the U.S. no longer consider a TWIC as a primary source document to gain access to those installations.
Beginning on August 30, 2012, eligible individuals have the option of extending their current credential for three years with a phone call, an upfront fee of $60 and only one trip to a TWIC enrollment center to pick-up and activate their new card.  This option is only available to U.S. nationals.

To receive the three year TWIC extension eligible individuals must:

Call the TWIC Help Desk (1-866-347-8942) and order a three-year TWIC.

Pay the $60 card replacement fee.

For individuals who became a U.S. national after enrolling for the original five-year TWIC, provide proof of U.S. national status before picking up the three-year TWIC.
Any individual can choose the option of renewing their TWIC for the normal 5 year period by going through the standard process and paying the higher fee.