If you’re a transportation worker, truck driver, and anyone working for a railroad company, you need to get a TWIC card. It’s the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, and it’s required by law. Read on to learn more about a TWIC card and how to obtain one. There are many benefits of having a TWIC Card.
A TWIC card is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential that all transportation workers need to have to do their jobs legally. It was created as part of the Maritime Transportation Security Act following 9-11 to make our country safer by providing essential identification for licensed transportation workers.
TWIC cards are issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), requiring workers to have a photo on their cards. You can get one online or at a local American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) office if you don’t have one.
A TWIC card comes in three types: Standard, Enhanced, and Global. The Global is the most expensive, giving you access to all the secure areas in the country. However, you will need another form of identification for any federally-run airport because TSA does not allow people with Global cards to get through security checkpoints with them.
Which type of TWIC card you get will depend on how often you travel, what kind of transportation work you do, and if it requires a TSA background check.
The Transportation Security Administration sets the cost for each TWIC card type. A Standard TWIC card costs $5.00 per year and is suitable for five years. A Global card costs $50.00 every five years and gives full access to all secure areas throughout the country. An Enhanced card costs $20.00 per year. It gives you access to federal facilities that don’t require a TSA background check (airports, seaports, military bases, healthcare facilities, nuclear power plants, and others). You can apply for an Enhanced card online or at your local AARP office.
You must renew your TWIC card every five years if you still need it. If you fail to do this promptly, it will be suspended, and you won’t be able to use it anymore. The TWIC cards are valid for five years from the date of issuance unless otherwise indicated on the face of the card.
In conclusion, a TWIC card is a crucial identification that all our transportation workers are required to get, but if you don’t have one, you can get one online or at your local AARP office.