State Transport Police Careers | SCDPS
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South Carolina Department of Public Safety

State Transport Police Careers

Careers STP

Want to join a Proud History and an Exciting Future?

The South Carolina State Transport Police (STP) is the premier law enforcement division in South Carolina for enforcing both federal regulations and state laws pertaining to commercial motor vehicles.

STP works hand-and-hand with all divisions of the Department of Public Safety, including the Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Protective Services. STP also works in close partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Federal Highway Administration, other state and local law enforcement agencies. 

Although STP officers specialize in commercial motor vehicle enforcement, they also enforce state traffic laws for non-commercial drivers regularly.

If you are seeking employment in a fast paced, diverse environment, while working outdoors and interacting with the public, applying to be an STP officer could be one of the most rewarding decisions you will ever make.

Why choose the State Transport Police?

There are many reasons why you should choose the State Transport Police:

State Transport Police Overview

The State Transport Police officers work throughout South Carolina’s 46 counties, patrolling all our highways and interstates for unsafe commercial motor vehicles and commercial drivers, as well as all unsafe vehicles to help protect the public daily. Through our many permanent scale facilities and all of our roadside enforcement efforts, STP conducts on average 50,000 to 60,000 inspections per year. Out of these enforcement efforts, more than 14,000 unsafe vehicles and drivers are removed from our roadways each year. STP is divided into six Regions across South Carolina, as well as a Special Operations Unit and the Motor Carrier Compliance Unit. You can read more about STP here. 

Special Operation Units

  • HAZMAT/Level VI Team -STP’s HAZMAT/Level VI team are some of the most highly trained officers in the field of hazardous materials, radioactive materials, and transuranic waste regulations. This unit helps to ensure companies and their drivers meet state and federal safety standards as they transport hazardous or radioactive material within South Carolina.
  • Motor Carrier Compliance (MCC) Unit -The Motor Carrier Compliance Unit is comprised of STP officers and auditors who travel to commercial trucking companies throughout the state conducting safety audits of their commercial motor vehicle fleets and driver information, all while analyzing company information to ensure compliance with safety regulations designated by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
  • DRIVE Team -The STP DRIVE Team focuses on traffic enforcement, criminal drug interdiction, impaired driving detection and enforcement, and identifying and stopping human trafficking by conducting high visibility enforcement operations in identified “high crash corridors” throughout the state.

See the State Transport Police in Action

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Basic requirements

  • At least 21 years of age before day one of Basic Training
  • You must have a valid South Carolina Driver's License or a valid Driver's License from your current State
  • US Citizen
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • 20/20 vision OR no more than 20/200 corrected to 20/100 or below
  • NO CRIMINAL RECORD
  • Driving record should be clear of any suspension for the last 5 years as a result of alcoholic beverage or dangerous drug violation, or leaving the scene of an accident. The overall driving record will be evaluated placing emphasis on the severity, date and age, time span, and number of violations accumulated.
Employment Disqualifiers

Please read the following information carefully before applying. The list below includes the automatic disqualifiers. If you meet any of these, you are disqualified from employment.

  • Under 21 years of age by the hire date
  • Not a United States Citizen
  • No High School Diploma or G.E.D.
  • Dishonorable Discharge from the military
  • Convicted of any crime punishable by imprisonment in a federal or a state prison
  • Convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs within the past 5 years
  • Driving record should be clear of any suspension for the last 5 years as a result of alcoholic beverage or dangerous drug violation, or leaving the scene of an accident. The overall driving record will be evaluated placing emphasis on the severity, date and age, time span, and number of violations accumulated.
  • Any conviction of Criminal Domestic Violence
  • Cannot meet minimum vision standards: (20/20 vision OR no more than 20/200, corrected to 20/100 or below)
  • Any felony conviction (whether convicted as a juvenile or an adult)
Body Piercings and Tattoo Policy

Body piercings which are visible anytime while on duty and/or in uniform are prohibited. This does not apply to piercing of the ear lobes on female troopers/officers.

The display of any offensive image, phrase, or other expression contained within a Visible Tattoo/Body Art shall be prohibited. Offensive images, phrases, or other expressions shall include but not be limited to:.

  • Depictions of nudity, violence, or criminal activity;
  • Sexually explicit/vulgar art, words, or profane language;
  • Symbols likely to incite a strong negative reaction in any group; or
  • Initials, symbolism, or acronyms that represent criminal or historically oppressive organizations, gangs, or activities.

Visible Tattoos/Body Art may not contain any unapproved reference to SCDPS or any of its divisions or any political affiliation or message.

Tattoo Location:

  • Tattoos/Body Art are not permitted on the neck, face, head, or the area of the chest that would be visible while an SCDPS officer is wearing official attire or in uniform wearing a properly-fitting crew neck t-shirt.
  • Tattoos/Body Art are not permitted on the hands with the exception of a single band tattoo on one finger of either the right or left hand that cannot exceed 3/8 of an inch in width.

Appearance While in Uniform:

  • Except as specified in Section (IV)( B)(2)(b), under no circumstances shall a Tattoo/Body Art be seen by another while the officer is in any SCDPS uniform or off duty in a position to be recognized as an SCDPS officer (i.e., working special assignments or off duty assignments while considered to be representing the department in uniform or approved civilian attire).

Officers with approved and previously-defined Visible Tattoos have the following options to cover the Tattoo(s)/Body Art:

  • The Tattoo(s)/Body Art shall be covered by a Tattoo/Body Art cover-up sleeve without any design or logo that most closely matches the skin tone of the officer and completely covers the Tattoo(s)/Body Art. Cover-up sleeves shall be approved by the appropriate Division Director or his/her designee and provided by the officer. The officer shall ensure the cover-up sleeve remains clean, in good working condition, and professionally presentable to the public at all times.
Rejection Criteria

If you are not selected you may generally be able to re-apply within six months of your rejection letter, unless your rejection was based on one of the following factors:

  1. ANY falsification of application discovered during process: Applicants will be ineligible to re-apply for 2 years from date on rejection letter.
  2. Two (2) Physical Agility Test (PAT) failures within a twelve (12) month period: Applicants will be ineligible to re-apply for 1 year from date on rejection letter.
  3. Two (2) Written Examination test failures within a twelve (12) month period: Applicants will be ineligible to re-apply for 1 year from date on rejection letter.
  4. Non-selection by the Oral Interview Board: Applicants who fail to get the minimum required score during their interview will be ineligible to re-apply for 1 year from date on rejection letter.

How to Become an STP Officer

There are several steps to join the SC State Transport Police, including completing Law Enforcement Basic training and a rigorous training process. Find out more below:

Ready to join the State Transport Police?

The State Transport Police is not currently hiring. The next training class will be available mid 2026. Contact a recruiter for more details on the hiring process.