WASHINGTON — The long-awaited TWIC card in the U.S. is finally a reality — sort of.

The Department of Homeland Security published its final rule for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) this week, according to U.S. media.

Enrollment for the program — which mandates new biometric security credentials for workers accessing the nation’s container ports — is set to officially begin this month at select facilities. DHS says it expects to enroll about 770,000 people.

The rest of the ports will come under the program by the end of November. Enforcement, however, is not expected to take affect for some time.

The program — which has been postponed several times over the last two years because of cost overruns — could also be extended to workers and truckers at other security sensitive locations both in the private and public sectors.

Workers will have a card with a circuit chip that stores fingerprint and background information that can be read remotely. Canadian truckers who require unescorted access to such facilities must also apply for the card.
The fee will be $133.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance and the American Trucking Associations have complained that cross-border truckers already undergo — and have to pay for — similar security clearances under programs like Free and Secure Trade (FAST). However, there’s no indication U.S. officials will discount the redundant fees for those carriers.