If your trucking travels take you to military bases or other federal facilities, you need to make sure your license is compliant with a law taking effect Oct. 1.
The Real ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, set minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards that are required for accessing federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants and boarding commercial airplanes.
The Department of Homeland Security, which was tasked with managing the implementation of Real ID licenses, says all drivers looking to do any of those things must have a Real ID-compliant license, which features a star in some form on the card. The placement and look of the star varies from state-to-state, but most will either be gold or black, and some will feature a circle around the star. California’s Real ID-compliant license features a gold grizzly bear with a star cut-out.
To add to the confusion for some, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) notes that legacy Ohio driver’s licenses have a gold star on the card, however, REAL ID compliant Ohio driver’s licenses have a black cut-out star.
While it’s best to check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency, most states will require documentation showing your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal residence, and lawful status in order to obtain a Real ID. Most states will accept a passport or birth certificate for identity and date of birth verification, Social Security card for Social Security number, and a variety of documents to prove residency.
As of January, all but four states and territories are fully compliant with the Real ID requirements, and DHS says all states are on track to be compliant by the Oct. 1 deadline. New Jersey’s and American Samoa’s plans are currently under review with DHS, while Oregon and Oklahoma have until Aug. 7 and Sept. 19, respectively, to become compliant.
An unexpired passport or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC card) can also grant you access to most facilities as an alternative to the Real ID. You can apply for a TWIC card through TSA if you don’t already have one.
Additionally, for residents of Washington state, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont, you can obtain an enhanced driver’s license (EDL) as an acceptable alternative to a Real ID-compliant license. EDLs feature a radio frequency ID (RFID) chip to help for cross-border transportation into Canada.
