Last Updated: December 15, 2023
The FMCSA Clearinghouse is a requirement for all entities covered under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This includes all operators of a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) operating a Commerical Motor Vehicle or CMV. This also covers school bus drivers, construction equipment operators, interstate and intrastate motor carriers, including passenger carriers, limousine drivers, municipal vehicle drivers (e.g., waste management vehicles) and Federal and state agencies that employ drivers subject to FMCSA drug and alcohol use testing regulations, such as the Department of Defense or public transit. For more information, contact US Drug Test Centers today!
FMCSA Clearinghouse registration can be tricky. Whether you are an employer, an owner operator or an employee covered by FMCSA regulations, US Drug Test Centers can assist you with your Clearinghouse registration. Registration is very specific to your business and whether or not you manage employees or you are a sole proprietor. Additionally, if you are a sole proprietor or owner operator, you are required to designate a Consortium/Third-Party Administrator or TPA to report violations and Return-to-Duty (RTD) or follow-up testing information on your behalf. Contact US Drug Test Centers today so that we can help make the registration process seamless!
Employers across the country are gearing up for some of the most significant changes in the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations seen in recent years. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) Department of Transportation drug and alcohol Clearinghouse rule, also known as the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (“Clearinghouse”) - 49 CFR Part 382, subpart G, went into effect on January 6, 2020.
Officials with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) promote that the drug test Clearinghouse will improve highway safety by helping employers, the FMCSA drug Clearinghouse, State Driver Licensing Agencies, and State law enforcement to quickly and efficiently identify drivers who are not legally permitted to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) due to drug and alcohol program violations. This new and highly secure online database will provide access to real-time information, ensuring that drivers committing these violations complete the necessary steps before getting back behind the wheel or performing any other safety-sensitive function.
The primary role of the new drug screen Clearinghouse DOT is increased safety. The implementation of the DOT Clearinghouse database will, over time, close a dangerous loophole that has been exploited since the 1990s. In compliance with Part 382.413 of the current DOT regulations, employers are required to utilize a manual and mainly paper-driven process to inquire with a driver’s previous employer(s) over the last three years. Past employers would be contacted, commonly via fax, and would be required to provide any information regarding prior drug and alcohol testing violations. These employment verifications typically involved precious time, effort, record retention & retrieval for past employers, and good memory and unwavering honesty from the drivers, to function as an efficient safety check.
Previously, a driver could have a drug and alcohol testing violation with “trucking company A,” be terminated, and go apply at “trucking company B.” When “trucking company B” has the prospective driver provide their past employer information, the driver conveniently neglects to disclose that they ever worked for “trucking company A.” Since there was no central repository for this type of information prior to the release of the FMCSA Clearinghouse, drivers could avoid the consequences of failing a drug or alcohol test by merely failing to disclose the information of their previous employer(s), leaving a prospective employer entirely in the dark on past violations.
The implementation of the DOT drug and alcohol Clearinghouse’s secure, online database will now provide employers and other authorized users real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learners’ permit (CLP) holders’ drug and alcohol program violation, thus improving safety on our Nations roadways.
Referencing the FMCSA’s Clearinghouse FactSheet, these new regulations will affect “all CDL drivers who operate CMVs on public roads, and their employers and service agents.”
This includes, but not limited to:
Information that will be reported and stored in the FMCSA Clearinghouse includes:
Are you a DOT company or owner-operator in need of assistance? Call 866-566-0261 or order your test online today!
Employers of drivers operating CMVs that require a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial driver’s permit (CLP) are required to implement and conduct a drug and alcohol use testing program that complies with FMCSA and DOT requirements. Employers were required to query the drug and alcohol Clearinghouse database and request drug and alcohol testing histories from previous employers (going back three years) until January 6, 2023. The Clearinghouse query will now replace the need for an employer to request employment history, going forward.
The FMCSA Clearinghouse brings the following new requirements for employers:
Registration - FMCSA regulated employers must register their company with the Clearinghouse, starting right now. The database will pull your company information from other FMCSA systems using your USDOT Number. Registration is free.
Designate your C/TPA - Once registration is complete employers, that work with one or more consortia/third-party administrator(s) (C/TPAs), will be required to designate them in the Clearinghouse before they can access the Clearinghouse drug testing database on the employer's behalf. Employers will also be able to invite “assistants” or other employees who will access the Clearinghouse on the company’s behalf, inviting them to register as part of the company or organization.
Pre-Employment Screening - Employers will be required to run detailed database queries to make sure applicants they are planning to hire for regulated positions do not have outstanding positive test results.
Annual Screening - Employers will be required to run limited database queries for current drivers at least once a year to determine whether any information exists in the Clearinghouse about those employees. If the limited query returns any results, a detailed database query will then be required.
Employers must also:
An owner-operator or employer who employs themselves as a driver must comply with FMCSA drug and alcohol requirements that apply to both employers and drivers. Owner-operators are required to work with at least one consortia/third-party administrator (C/TPA). Owner-operators are required to designate their C/TPA(s) in the Clearinghouse before they can access the Clearinghouse database on their behalf. Owner-operators will also be able to invite “assistants” or other employees who will access the Clearinghouse on the company’s behalf, inviting them to register as part of the company.
Employers will also be required to revise their policies to reflect these new regulations:
Part 382 – Controlled Substances and Alcohol Use and Testing
Subpart F – Alcohol Misuse and Controlled Substances Use Information, Training, and Referral
§382.601: Employer obligation to promulgate a policy on the misuse of alcohol and use of controlled substances.
(12) The requirement that the following personal information collected and maintained under this part shall be reported to the Clearinghouse:
Employers can learn more about drug and alcohol rules and how they affect your business here: Employer Brochure & Purchase Query Plans
If you're a DOT owner-operator or company in need of assistance with your drug-free workplace policy, call 866-566-0261 or order your test online today!
Any driver who holds a CDL (or CLP) and meets the DOT requirements (49 CFR Part 383), and the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program (Part 382) must comply with the Clearinghouse's requirements. Drug and alcohol testing regulations are designed to help keep our roadways safe. Failure to consent to a required test will result in a driver being prohibited from performing a safety-sensitive function, such as operating a CMV.
Drivers should be prepared to provide their CDL numbers when testing. Employers will require you to give consent whenever there is a need to run a full database query. Refusing to comply with consent will prohibit you from performing any FMCSA regulated safety-sensitive functions with that employer. Drivers should also:
Get Registered – While immediate Clearinghouse registration is not required for all drivers, they will need to be registered to view their own Clearinghouse record, or to provide electronic consent for a current or prospective employer to query the database. Registration is free.
Review Your Record – Once registered, drivers can review or initiate the process to revise or remove incorrectly reported information.
Provide Consent – Provide electronic consent for a current or prospective employer to conduct a full query (including a pre-employment query) in the Clearinghouse. Failing to consent to a query will result in a driver being prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions for the employer conducting the query.
An owner-operator or employer who employs themselves as a driver must comply with FMCSA drug and alcohol requirements that apply to both employers and drivers.
Learn about drug and alcohol regulations, including the types of tests required, when testing occurs, and drivers’ rights and responsibilities here: Driver Brochure or Owner-operator Brochure
As you work to implement these new requirements, get registered for the Clearinghouse, ensure your drivers and service providers understand these new requirements; here are some noteworthy dates to be aware of:
Clearinghouse Final Rule Published
The Clearinghouse final rule implemented the Congressional mandate to establish a drug and alcohol clearinghouse and identified the roles and responsibilities of those who will be required to use the Clearinghouse.
Registration Begins
Users can establish an account that will allow access to the Clearinghouse once it becomes operational on January 6, 2020.
Query Plans Available for Purchase
Registered employers can log into the Clearinghouse to purchase their query plan. Query plans may only be purchased from the FMCSA Clearinghouse by registered employers.
Clearinghouse Implementation
Mandatory use of the Clearinghouse goes into effect. Employers must report certain drug and alcohol program violations and can conduct electronic queries in the Clearinghouse. Manual inquiries with previous employers are still required to cover the preceding three years.
Clearinghouse Three-Year Mark
Employers must query only the Clearinghouse to satisfy the employer requirement to identify prospective drivers who have committed drug and alcohol program violations.
There are also new Clearinghouse drug test requirements for Consortiums/Third-Party Administrators (c/TPAs), Medical Review Officers (MROs) & Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs). The time is now to get familiar with the new regulations, get registered with the Clearinghouse database, and plan the implementation requirements with your service provider(s) to ensure you ready to go come January 6, 2020. The FMCSA’s Clearinghouse webpage provides information about the program, including a fact sheet, user roles card, guidance on getting registered, information on query plans, a list of frequently asked questions, and a place where those interested can sign up to receive email updates about the drug testing Clearinghouse.
