Washington, D.C. — On September 10, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration announced a temporary exemption for commercial truck drivers renewing their Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) before the end of the year, allowing them to continue transporting dangerous goods without completing a new threat assessment.

The HME Threat Assessment Program has required every motorist applying for, renewing, or transferring a hazardous materials endorsement on a state‑issued commercial driver’s license to undergo a federal background check. The new exemption comes after the TSA found that the public interest lies in keeping drivers with previously cleared threat assessments on the road, especially as supply‑chain pressures keep the demand for HME‑qualified operators high. The delay in adjudicating new threat assessments has already stretched the processing times for some applicants, prompting the agency to act.

About 250,000 truck drivers will have expired HME credentials by the end of 2022, averaging 22,500 expirations a month. States can extend the expiration date for all HME credentials that expire between July 1, 2022, and December 27, 2022 for up to 180 days during the exemption period. The decision echoes a similar temporary waiver issued on April 8, 2020, when the COVID‑19 pandemic threatened to disrupt the flow of hazardous materials across the country.

What This Means for Drivers

Commercial truckers holding an HME that is about to lapse can keep driving without waiting for a new threat assessment to clear. The exemption does not remove the requirement for recurrent vetting; drivers will still undergo periodic checks throughout the waiver period. Owner‑operators can avoid costly downtime, and fleet managers can schedule maintenance without fearing regulatory penalties. CDL‑A drivers who transport hazardous goods will find that their licenses remain valid for the duration of the exemption, keeping trucking companies hiring in a critical sector operational.

Industry Reaction

Carriers across the nation welcomed the TSA’s decision, noting that the waiver removes a major bottleneck in the renewal process. The Owner‑Operator Independent Drivers Association highlighted that the move keeps OTR truck drivers and regional fleets on schedule, preserving jobs and keeping freight moving. Industry analysts point out that the exemption aligns with FMCSA regulations on licensing and allows trucking companies hiring to maintain compliance while still meeting freight demand.

Key Points

• The TSA grants a temporary exemption for HME holders whose endorsements are expiring before year‑end.
• States may extend HME expirations by up to 180 days during the waiver period.
• 250,000 drivers face expiration by the end of 2022, with 22,500 monthly lapses.
• Recurrent vetting continues; the exemption does not waive all background checks.

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