Renewing Hazmat Endorsement

You will likely need to take the hazmat portion of the test every time you renew your CDL.

 

Yes, you will take the haz-mat part of the CDL test all over again when you renew it, the very same test you did the first time. Every 5 years you have to renew it and take that test. Tanker & doubles/triples endorsements stay on there without you having to do a written test at renewal time.

 

just renewed mine and YES you will take the written test and redo back ground check EVERY TIME you renew it..

 

Yep. You have to go through the entire process if its your 1st time, or 100th time.

 

Yep, yep and yep. Move to another state and you go through it all again.

 

It's ridiculous having to be fingerprinted every time for renewal of hazmat and TWIC cards . Once you are fingerprinted anywhere there should be no more need . I was told it was because agencies can't share fingerprints unless it involves a crime .

 

It is usually the same company doing the investigation for both the TWIC and hazmat background checks. I doubt that the company will not use the same information for both checks. It is about the money. The police could do the same check in minutes and yet we need to pay over $200 for both checks. Before TWIC and the background checks for hazmat, I used to go to military bases all over the country. Every one would do a background check using my drivers license. The whole background check has created yet another cash rich industry. The company that does the background checks is a defense contractor. It is a joke and we are the but of the joke. Going through these background checks will do nothing to make this country safer. It does nothing more than could be done by simply running our license or putting in our social security number. It is a sham. But, unless you participate and give them your money you won't be able to haul hazmat or be allowed into U.S. ports. Some shippers also require a TWIC as do some power plants. States could easily do the same check when we apply or renew our CDL. There is no justification to be fingerprinted and go through the same process every few years.

 

Question.

I may begin driving for a steel hauler which wouldnt necessarily need a hazmat end.
I have HS/TSA approval as of now. How long is that ineffect? meaning can I put this letter "on the shelf " for a while til I decide to go somewhere else that requires or prefers hazmat?


Also TWIC would be helpful with this steel hauler. Can or does this already in hand approval apply to this card?

 

As far as I know you will still need to pay for the backgound check to obtain a TWIC. It will cost $135 unless you have the hazmat endorsement. Then the cost will drop to $105. You can check online to see the nearest port where you can go for your interview. You can apply online, but will need to go to one of their offices to be fingerprinted and answer a few questions. You will then need to go back to the same office to pick up your card in person. I see that you live in Columbus, OH. My guess is that you will need to go to Cleveland or perhaps Cincinnati. You can go to any port where they have an office.