Starting May 31, 2005, all commercial drivers who transport
hazardous materials must undergo a federal security threat assessment. This includes endorsement renewals and endorsements transferred from another state.

The new requirements, contained within the USA PATRIOT Act, are designed to increase security and safety of hazardous material shipments. They include fingerprinting, background checks, and an immigration check on any individual who wants to apply for, renew, or transfer a hazardous materials endorsement (HME) on their commercial driver license (CDL).

Commercial drivers must complete the national HME application online at http://www.hazprints.com or by calling the Driver Service Center at 1-877-429-7746.

The driver, or the driver’s employer, will be responsible for paying any required fees for the background check and fingerprinting. TSA officials have set the fee at $94.