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Sharing Economy / Gig Economy Hazardous Material Endorsement
The Transport Security Administration (TSA) is responsible for issuing HazMat (hazardous materials) endorsements to people with Commercial Driver’s Licenses and others who need it to perform their jobs.
Under the provisions of the USA Patriot Act, states are prohibited from issuing a permit to transport hazardous materials for commercial purposes unless the driver has been screened to determine whether he or she presents a security risk.
A driver who wants to add a HazMat Endorsement onto their CDL, they need to apply for a security threat assessment. The application must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the expiration date on the CDL.
How To Apply For a HazMat Endorsement
A driver who wants to apply for a HazMat endorsement must produce the following:
- A valid Commercial Driver’s License
- Proof of the driver’s legal status
- Valid identification
Legal Status
A HazMat endorsement may only be granted to a person who is legally able to work in the United States. The endorsement may be granted to:
- A United States citizen
- A legal permanent resident
- Naturalized citizen
- Nonimmigrant alien
- Refugee or Asylee with legal status
Having a criminal record may disqualify the individual from getting a HazMat endorsement. A person who has been declared mentally incompetent or who has been involuntarily admitted to a mental institution is prohibited from applying for a HazMat endorsement. The individual must not be considered a threat to transportation security to qualify as well. A written test may need to be administered before HazMat endorsement is issued. Once the TSA threat assessment is issued, it is valid for a period of up to five years.
Each state forwards the completed application form and the applicant’s fingerprints to the TSA. Some states have signed contracts with agents to collect the required information and forward it to the TSA. For states serviced by agents, the application form can be completed online at https://www.hazprints.com. The individual pays a fee and makes an appointment to get his or her fingerprints taken at a TSA-contracted facility.
Possible Results of a Security Threat Assessment
Once the application has been processed, the individual will receive one of three possible results:
- A letter indicating they are eligible. The actual HazMat endorsement will be issued by the state where you live.
- A letter advising the person that they have one or more criteria that would disqualify him or her from receiving the HazMat endorsement. The recipient has 60 days to respond. He or she can ask for more time, appeal the decision, or choose to do nothing. If the individual doesn’t respond, the state where the individual applied for the HazMat designation is notified and the individual is disqualified from getting the designation. In a situation where the applicant launches an appeal and is denied, he or she has the right to appeal to an Administrative Law Judge.
- A letter stating the applicant is an imminent threat to transportation security. Any existing HazMat endorsement will be revoked immediately. The individual may appeal the decision, but he or she is prohibited from holding a HazMat endorsement in the interim.