Endorsement Questions (Hazmat, Tankers)

Get your CDL with the tanker endorsement and try to find a company that will support and reimburse you for the Hazmat process. Look into Schneider.

 

TSA's hazmat rules are here. TWIC rules are here. They're both managed by TSA.

 

The rules have changed so much since I went to Truck Driving School in 1991. I would recommend Plan A, BUT TSA took 2 1/2 months to process my background this year. This all depends on how many submissions this one office receives from all 50 states. This will give you a decent time frame to work from. After I got my hazmat the same office processed my TWIC in 2 weeks. If you chose a good school they may be able to advise you better. They deal with this stuff more often then any one truck driver will.

 

And remember you cannot get a hazmat endorsement without having a CDL and states differ on when you can take the written test. For example, here in Michigan, I can't take the hazmat test until I have the CDL because they will not put it on the CDL Temporary Instructional Permit. Other states have different rules, so check with your local DMV.

 

I have no experience with FAST.

This information is pasted from the FAQ section of TSA / TWIC:

What if I have already completed a comparable threat assessment?

• A reduced fee of $105.25 will be made available for applicants who will not require the security threat assessment. The reduced fee is available for the following:
  • applicants who hold a valid Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) issued after May 31, 2005,
  • applicants who hold a valid Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card,
  • applicants who hold a Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) issued after February 3, 2003, or
  • applicants who hold a Merchant Marine License (MML) issued after January 13, 2006.
  Note: For those applicants seeking to pay the reduced fee, they must present their HME, FAST card, MMD, or MML (meeting the requirements outlined above) at the time of enrollment.
  ​

Are the background checks for a TWIC the same as the background checks conducted for an individual applying for a Hazardous Material Endorsement?

• Yes. They have the same eligibility requirements, share a consistent waivers and appeals process and leverage the same fingerprint-based criminal history records check.

• Does someone with a Hazardous Material Endorsement (HME) have to repeat the criminal history records check (CHRC) if they are applying for a TWIC?
  • No. As a result of this, an applicant who applies for a TWIC after successfully completing the HME security threat assessment does not have to pay for a second CHRC - and the fee for the TWIC is reduced by $27.25. All TWIC applicants must pay the fees that cover the other components of the TWIC program, including enrollment and card issuance

 

I assume you already have the learners permit. In my state if you do it all at once you have to pay the hazmat fee twice, learners and CDL.
After I got my learners permit I took the test for tanker, double/triple, and hazmat. The cost of my CDL license was about double. I haven't use any of the endorsements yet.
What I should have done was taken the tests after I got my CDL because taking them is free but the background check and putting it on the license is extra. Then any employer could have paid for it and I could have had it quickly. YMMV

 

Your wasting your time going to the DMV first. Must go for finger printing first then wait 2+ weeks to get the paper work back if you are good to go then go to the DMV with the paper work stating you have been certified for testing. In the mean while-while waiting best thing to do is study, study, study. If you have a clean background and you don't get it then you have the right for an investigation toward getting your hazmat certification. You must have hazmat in order to get tank on your license sence tank hazmat or not is still hazardous or atleast that's how it works here in Louisiana.

Somethings with the way background checks are setup don't make sence. I went and bought my first gun a few months ago and if everything is good the background check can come back clear in as little as 15 minutes after submission of the application. Stood around looking at other guns for about an hour and looked at the guy behind the counter and said I wonder why it was taking so long. I figure if they gave me permission to hold a hazmat endoursment I would have no problem buying a gun. Guy replied to me "that doesn't mean jack squat. We've had police officers come in-in full uniform trying to buy a gun and have been denied. We've even had military guy with a level 7 security cleanance come in trying to buy a gun and was denied." I looked really puzzled at the guy after he said that. I'm thinking ok, one already has a police issue and could go off the deep end right here with a dept issued weapon, what difference does it make if he buys one? Another one who has his figure on a button that could destroy half the country in an instant and if he walked off the deep end but he couldn't buy one? Yet giving me the everyday normal working joe blow truck driver a hazmat cerification and the ok to purchase firearms. ####, something is majorly screwed up in Washington!

 

apply for your hazmat and get a twic

 

From what I was told by the lady at the hazmat figer printing office, you can't apply for both on the same application. They have to be seperate.