Kentucky Security Threat Assessment

Kentucky CDL Hazmat Drivers – Important

Hazardous Material Endorsement Application

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

To check the status of Hazmat Driver Security Threat Assessment, applicants may call the TSA Hazprints hotline at 1-877-429-7746.

Effective on and after January 31, 2005:

Any “first time” applicant wishing to obtain Hazardous Materials Endorsement must:

If the applicant already holds a CDL, he/she must call KSP (1-888-655-9655) to set up an appointment to be fingerprinted. There are eight sites (list below) across the state where the fingerprinting will be conducted; or
If the applicant does not currently hold a CDL, he/she must obtain a CDL permit. Once a permit is obtained, the applicant must call the KSP (1-888-655-9655) to set up the appointment to be fingerprinted.

At the KSP Hazmat fingerprinting site, applicants will need to show two forms of identification, their CDL permit along with regular Operator’s license or Commercial license, and another form of identification, i.e. birth certificate, INS documentation, etc. The Department of Transportation physical card will also be examined.

Applicants will be advised that the application can be filled out in advance or filled out at the time the fingerprints are taken, however, the application MUST be signed in the presence of the examiner taking the fingerprints.

The cost for the fingerprint based criminal background check will be $115.00 paid by certified check, cashiers check, or a money order. The check should be made out to the Kentucky State Treasurer and given to the examiner when the fingerprints are taken. This fee is for the fingerprint based criminal background check only. This is not a fee for the Hazardous Material Endorsement.

The application will be sent to the Transportation Safety Administration and the fingerprints will be sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). Applicants will be advised that they receive notification from TSA and the Division of Driver Licensing when the assessment is complete. TSA will issue notice to the state that the identified applicant (CDL number) is either approved or disqualified. This will cause an entry to be made on the applicant’s record to the effect that the applicant has completed the fingerprint process and that the applicant is either approved or denied. There will not be a reason stated if an applicant is disqualified, only information to the applicant as to how to appeal the decision through TSA.

If the applicant is approved, he/she will be advised that they may continue the process in obtaining the Hazardous Material endorsement. Applicant would then proceed to their respective Circuit Court Clerk’s office in their county of residence, make application for the Hazardous Material endorsement, pay the $5.00 test fee and take the written knowledge test. If successful in taking the test, the endorsement will be issued.

The endorsement will only be added to a license. Per FMCSA regulation 383.23(c)(3).

Renewals

Effective on and after May 31, 2005, all renewal applicants of a Hazardous Materials Endorsement must initiate the fingerprint based criminal background check. Renewals will be handled just as they have always been handled in the past until May 31, 2005. The procedure on and after May 31st, will be as follows:

An applicant currently holding a CDL Hazardous Materials Endorsement which will expire on or after May 31, 2005 will be sent a notification letter by the Division of Driver Licensing approximately 60 days prior to the expiration. This notification will advise the applicant that they must initiate the fingerprint based criminal background check prior to the expiration date. The correspondence will also advise the applicant of the telephone number (1-888-655-9655) for making an appointment with the KSP for fingerprinting. The renewal process is as otherwise explained for initial applicants above concerning proof of identity and fees.

Renewal Drivers with a Hazmat Endorsement

For renewal drivers the 30-day application requirement may be waived if a driver can show just cause as to the reason the threat assessment process was not started at a reasonable time after receiving the letter from the Transportation Cabinet.

For example, a driver may be required to provide:
• A notarized letter from their employer
• A copy of their logbook indicating they were on the road and unavailable to start the process or have,
• Returned mail entry posted on their driving record.

Renewal drivers will still be required to hold a valid CDL with the Hazardous Material endorsement, and show proof that the threat assessment process has been started, either by an entry on the driving record or a copy of the receipt, even if the 30-day application requirement is waived.

NOTE: The written knowledge test for the Hazardous Material Endorsement cannot be administered until the applicant has been notified by TSA that they may proceed in obtaining the endorsement. In some cases, you may be eligible for a ninety (90) day extension to complete your threat assessment. This will be determined by the CDL section at the Division of Driver Licensing.

Transfers

If the threat assessment you completed in the previous state will not cover the length of your license issued in Kentucky, you will be required to undergo a new security threat assessment.

Authority
Title 51 U.S.C. §5103a
49 C.F.R. Part 1572
502 KAR 10:120E

Kentucky Hazardous Material Endorsement Fingerprint Locations

Call 1-888-655-9655 for appointment

Lexington at 162 East Main Street, Room 201
Lexington, Kentucky 40507

Louisville at Bowman Field, 3501 Roger E. Schupp Street,
Louisville, Kentucky 40205;

Erlanger at 645 Stevenson Road,
Erlanger, Kentucky 41018;

Paducah at McCracken County Courthouse, South 7th Street
Paducah, Kentucky 42003;

Madisonville at Hopkins County Courthouse, Main Street
Madisonville, Kentucky 42431

Bowling Green at Warren County Courthouse, 1001 Center Street
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101

London at Laurel County Courthouse, 105 South Main Street, Room 102
London, Kentucky 40743

Paintsville, at Johnson County Courthouse, Court Street
Paintsville, Kentucky 41240