Requirements for A Hazardous Material Endorsement
The USA PATRIOT Act requires all drivers who transport hazardous material to undergo a security threat assessment. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, administers the threat assessment. This rule does not apply to applicants for or holders of a Commercial Driver's Licence (CDL) who do not wish to hold a Hazardous Materials Endorsement.
The Hazmat Threat Assessment Program involves a criminal history records check, an immigration check, and an intelligence-related check on any individuals who wish to apply for, renew, or transfer a Hazardous Material Endorsement (HME) on their CDL. At present, TSA is conducting the immigration and intelligence-related checks on all drivers who currently hold a HME. This involves a name-based check to determine whether any driver presents a security threat to the national transportation system.
For more information on the federal regulations, including a list of disqualifying offenses, visit the Transportation Security Administration website.
Kansas contracts with Integrated Biometric Technology (L-1 Enrollment Services) to administer the fingerprinting process. Please visit their website at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov for further instructions and a complete list of locations where you can be fingerprinted.
The state of Kansas will not be allowed to issue a CDL with a HME until TSA completes the threat assessment and informs Kansas that the driver is qualified to receive the endorsement.
Please Note: Any current Hazmat driver who has a disqualifying offense prohibiting the holding of a HME must immediately surrender the HME to the State. A driver may then reapply for a HME, or submit a request for a waiver to TSA.
For more information on the federal regulations, including a list of disqualifying offenses, visit the Transportation Security Administration website.
PLEASE NOTE
The Division will not issue a Hazardous Material Endorsement to your CDL until the results of your threat assessment are successfully completed by TSA and the Division is notified. The driver will also be notified by TSA and must present that approval notification when they go in to the driver's license office to obtain the HazMat endorsement.
What documents do I need to take to the Driver's License Exam Station when applying for a Hazardous Material Endorsement on my CDL?
- If applying for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement, commercial drivers must comply with Transportation Security Administration requirements codified in 49 CFR Part 1572, and provide proof of citizenship or immigration status as specified in the Proof of Status below. A lawful permanent resident of the United States requesting a hazardous materials endorsement must additionally provide his or her Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) Alien registration number. The applicable document must be presented for verification at the Driver's License Exam Station when applying for a Hazardous Material Endorsement.
Table 1 to §383.71—List of Acceptable Proofs of Citizenship or Immigration Status
- U.S. Citizen
- U.S. Passport
- Certificate of birth that bears an official seal and was issued by a State, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United States
- Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State (Form FS–545 or DS 1350)
- Certificate of Naturalization (Form N–550 or N–570)
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N–560 or N–561)
- Lawful Permanent Resident
- Permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I–551)
- Temporary I–551 stamp in foreign passport.
- Temporary I–551 stamp on Form I–94, Arrival/Departure Record, with photograph of the bearer.
- Reentry Permit (Form I-327)
- U.S. Citizen
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Hazardous Materials
Yes, a vision screening and a knowledge exam covering Hazardous Material. You cannot be tested until the TSA approval is received. Study material can be found in section nine of the CDL handbook at: http://www.ksrevenue.gov/pdf/cdlhandbook.pdf.
You must go to a State Driver's License location. A list of all locations can be found at: http://www.ksrevenue.gov/dmvstations.html
If you wish, you can drop the endorsement when you renew your CDL license. If you want to keep the endorsement, you must be fingerprinted and have TSA approval before renewal.
Kansas contracts with Integrated Biometric Technology (L-1 Enrollment Services) to administer the fingerprinting process. Please visit their website at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov for further information.
Kansas can renew your CDL, but cannot issue you the HME until TSA gives approval. That means that you will not be able to transport Haz/Mat loads until the license is issued with a Haz/Mat endorsement after the TSA has given approval.