Newly introduced TSA bill would help truckers cut through red tape

A bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would cut down on “burdensome enrollment requirements and fees” for transportation workers trying to obtain more than one Transportation Security Administration (TSA) credentials.

The TSA Security Threat Assessment Application Modernization Act was introduced on May 25, 2022, by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer.

The bill is designed to reduce the burden on workers applying for two or more of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), hazardous materials endorsement (HME), or TSA PreCheck programs by standardizing the enrollment and renewal systems administered by TSA.

According to a news release on the bill, current TSA policies  often require separate applications for TWIC, HME, and PreCheck programs, even though TSA conducts a Security Threat Assessment (STA) for each program, resulting in extra cost and duplicative burden for applicants. If the bill passes, applicants could apply for two or more credentials at once and use a standardized application to enroll in any or all three of the credentials.

“Time and again, freight transportation workers have risen to the occasion and delivered critical products across the country,” Wicker said. “Workers who need multiple TSA credentials face burdensome enrollment requirements and fees. I am glad to introduce legislation to reduce the bureaucratic barriers for workers who need these credentials to keep goods moving.”  

“This common-sense legislation would streamline the TSA’s certification process for transportation workers who need approval from credentialing programs to do their jobs. By cutting down on duplicative red tape, the bill will also save truckers time and money when obtaining licenses. Importantly, these process improvements would all be made without impacting security concerns,” Fischer said.  

The bill has been endorsed by groups including the American Trucking Associations, the Teamsters, National Propane Gas Association, the Transportation Trades Department, the Border Trade Alliance, the National Tank Truck Carriers, Mississippi Trucking Association, the Association of the American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, and the National Energy and Fuels Institute.