A TWIC card — Transportation Worker Identification Credential — is the federally issued ID needed to enter secure areas of ports and other facilities regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act. Getting one involves a background check.
For drivers, a TWIC matters when work involves picking up or delivering at ports — common in intermodal and container freight. A driver who holds one can access loads that others can’t, so it can open up more work, much like a specialized endorsement.