TWIC Card for Truck Drivers: What It Is and How to Get One

Driver guide

Updated September 27, 2026

A TWIC card is a federal ID that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issues after a background check. Truck drivers need one to enter the secure areas of regulated ports, terminals, and vessels without an escort.

A new card costs $124 as of September 2026 and stays valid for five years. Plenty of over‑the‑road freight never goes near a port gate, so not every driver needs one.

$124New card fee

5 yearsCard is valid

60 daysApply this far ahead

10 daysCard arrives after approval

This guide covers what the card is, when a truck driver needs it, how to apply, and what can hold an application up. We haul finished vehicles out of port terminals, so we also cover how TWIC fits car hauling.

What Is a TWIC Card?

TWIC stands for Transportation Worker Identification Credential. TSA runs a security threat assessment, which is a background check, and then issues the card. A chip in the card holds your name, photo, expiration date, and two fingerprint templates.

The Maritime Transportation Security Act is the law behind it. Under Coast Guard rules, anyone who needs unescorted access to a secure area of a regulated vessel or facility must hold a TWIC before they get that access.

What “unescorted access” means

Unescorted access means you can enter and move around a secure area on your own. A secure area is the part of a port facility or vessel where the operator controls access under a Coast Guard approved security plan. Without a card, someone has to stay with you the whole time you are inside.

What else the card does for you

It works as ID at the airport. TSA accepts a valid, unexpired TWIC to board a plane.
It can get you TSA PreCheck. Many cardholders qualify. You enter the number on the back of the card as your known traveler number when you book.
It can help with a hazmat endorsement. Some states accept a valid TWIC in place of a separate hazmat background check. More on that below.

Do Truck Drivers Need a TWIC Card?

Only if your freight takes you inside the secure area of a regulated port, terminal, or vessel. A driver who runs between warehouses and distribution centers may go years without needing one. A driver who picks up inside a port gate needs one to get in without an escort.

Each facility sets its own secure areas, and TSA sends questions about facility access to the U.S. Coast Guard. When you are not sure, call the terminal before you roll.

Timing matters too. TSA recommends applying at least 60 days before you need the card, and says some applications take more than 45 days. If port freight is in your plans, apply early.

TWIC for Car Haulers

Car haulers run into TWIC most at ocean ports, where imported vehicles come off the ships and move inland to dealers and rail. At Accelerated, we run that kind of freight out of two port terminals:

Baltimore, Maryland: the Mercedes‑Benz vehicle preparation center and the Port of Baltimore, moving imported and processed vehicles inland. See our port freight out of Baltimore.
Jacksonville, Florida: imported and processed vehicles out of JAXPORT, hauled inland to dealers and rail. See our JAXPORT vehicle freight.

Accelerated car hauler loaded with vehicles at a vehicle yard

Our drivers hold TWIC and eModal credentials for the ports and terminals that require them. You do not need a TWIC to apply, though: it is useful, not required. What we do require is 3 years of CDL‑A driving and 1 year of verifiable 9‑car experience.

Run your own authority? The same port rules apply to your truck. See how to haul on your own authority with Accelerated freight.

Have 1 year of verifiable 9‑car experience? A TWIC helps, but you can apply without one.

Apply to Haul Cars

How to Get a TWIC Card

You apply through TSA’s enrollment program. Here is the process, step by step:

Pre‑enroll online, or skip it. Enter your details on TSA’s enrollment site to save time, or do the whole thing in person at an application center.
Book a visit. Schedule online or call (855) 347-8371, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Walk‑ins are welcome, but appointments go first.
Visit the application center. Bring your documents, such as a current U.S. passport, or a driver’s license plus a birth certificate. Staff take your fingerprints and a photo.
Pay the fee. A new card costs $124 as of September 2026. You can pay by credit card, money order, company check, or certified or cashier’s check. The fee is not refundable.
Wait for the background check. TSA aims to answer within 60 days. You get a phone or email notice when you are approved.
Get your card. It comes by mail to your home, or you can pick it up at the center. It should arrive within 10 days of the approval notice.

You can check your status online at any time.

TWIC fees as of September 2026

Application	TSA fee
New applicant	$124.00
Renewal in person	$124.00
Renewal online	$116.00
Replacement card	$60.00

Fees from tsa.gov/twic, checked September 27, 2026. Fees can change, so confirm on the TSA page before you go.

Renewing your card

A TWIC is valid for five years from the date TSA issues it. You can renew online from one year before the date on your card to one year after it expires, if you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident. Wait more than a year past expiration and you start over as a new applicant.

Keep the card working

TSA’s handling rules read like they were written for truckers. Keep it in the hard plastic case it comes in, and keep it off the dashboard, visor, and mirror, out of direct sun. Do not bend it, punch a hole in it, or carry it in your wallet.

TWIC Card Requirements

You can apply if you are a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or naturalized citizen. Nonimmigrants, asylees, and refugees in lawful status can apply too.

TSA can turn down an application with false or missing information, or because of certain criminal offenses. The federal rules sort those offenses into two groups:

Permanent disqualifiers include espionage, treason, terrorism, murder, crimes involving explosives, and improper transport of hazardous materials.
Interim disqualifiers count if you were convicted in the last 7 years or released from prison in the last 5. They include felony weapons offenses, extortion, fraud, bribery, smuggling, drug distribution, arson, kidnapping, and robbery.

A record is not always the end of the road. If TSA sends you a letter saying you may be ineligible, you can ask for an appeal, a waiver, or both, within 60 days. This is a summary, not legal advice, so read the full list of disqualifying offenses before you apply.

TWIC vs. Hazmat Endorsement

Both go through a TSA security threat assessment, so drivers mix them up. They do different jobs:

TWIC card

A card from TSA. It gets you into the secure areas of regulated ports, terminals, and vessels without an escort.

Hazmat endorsement (H)

A code on your CDL. You need it to haul hazardous materials that require placards. Your state issues it after you pass a knowledge test and TSA clears you.

The two can work together. Federal rules let a state issue a hazmat endorsement to a driver who holds a valid TWIC, in place of a separate threat assessment, so check how your state handles it. It works the other way too: a driver with a current hazmat threat assessment can pay a reduced TWIC fee.

Our guide to CDL endorsements covers every endorsement and what it lets you haul.

TWIC Card FAQs

What is a TWIC card used for?

A TWIC card lets you enter the secure areas of regulated ports, terminals, and vessels without an escort. Truck drivers use it to pick up and deliver inside port gates. TSA also accepts a valid TWIC as ID to board a plane.

How long is a TWIC card good for?

A TWIC card is valid for five years from the date TSA issues it. You can renew online from one year before it expires to one year after, if you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident.

How much does a TWIC card cost?

As of September 2026, TSA charges $124 for a new card, $116 to renew online, $124 to renew in person, and $60 for a replacement. The fee is not refundable. Check tsa.gov/twic for the current fee before you apply.

How long does it take to get a TWIC card?

TSA aims to answer within 60 days of your enrollment visit, and some applications take more than 45 days. After you are approved, the card should arrive within 10 days. TSA recommends applying at least 60 days before you need it.

Can you get a TWIC card with a felony?

It depends on the offense and how long ago it was. Some felonies disqualify you for good, and others count only if the conviction was in the last 7 years or you were released from prison in the last 5. You can also ask TSA for an appeal or a waiver.

Do I need a TWIC card to drive for Accelerated?

No. A TWIC is useful, but you do not need one to apply. Our drivers hold TWIC and eModal credentials for the ports and terminals that require them. We do require 3 years of CDL‑A driving and 1 year of verifiable 9‑car experience.

Haul Port Freight With Accelerated

We move imported and processed vehicles out of the Port of Baltimore and JAXPORT, plus automaker plant and rail freight. If you have 3 years of CDL‑A driving and 1 year of verifiable 9‑car experience, see car hauler jobs at Accelerated or start your application now.