CLEARINGHOUSE – DRUG & ALCOHOL

CLEARINGHOUSE – DRUG & ALCOHOL

FMCSA Clearinghouse Registration & Driver Query 

Clearinghouse Services:

  • Student Driver Registration

  • Driver Registration
  • Employer Registration
  • Driver Query Check

  • Violation Reporting

What is FMCSA Clearinghouse (Drug & Alcohol) ?

The Clearinghouse, mandated by Congress and managed by the Secretary of Transportation, stands as a robust online database pivotal in ensuring the safety and integrity of commercial driving. It provides a real-time repository of drug and alcohol program violations for CDL and CLP holders, offering essential transparency to employers, FMCSA, SDLAs, and law enforcement.

It helps employers, regulators, and police keep an eye on violations in real-time. This is important because some drivers might not tell their next employer about past problems. By catching these issues early, the Clearinghouse helps make sure drivers get the help they need before they’re back on the road, making highways safer for everyone.

FMCSA Clearinghouse
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What are the consequences of not signing up with FMCSA Clearinghouse?

Employers who don’t comply with the latest FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements are subject to criminal penalties and/or civil fines, not to exceed $2,500 for each offense.

While drivers aren’t mandated to register, it’s necessary for them to be registered to access their file information and provide electronic consent for a full query request from current or potential employers. Encouraging your drivers to register ensures they have the necessary access and permissions for employment-related queries and to view their own data.

Does Clearinghouse Apply To Your Business?

The Clearinghouse impacts anyone holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and driving a commercial vehicle on public roads, as well as those who employ them. This includes:

  • Interstate and intrastate motor carriers
  • Passenger carriers
  • School bus drivers
  • Construction equipment operators
  • Limousine drivers
  • Municipal vehicle drivers (e.g., waste management vehicles)
  • Business owners employing any of the above
  • Owner-operators (individuals who employ themselves as CDL drivers)
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Test Drugs
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After I sign up, what comes next? How do employers need to use the Clearinghouse?

After registering, employers are required to utilize the Clearinghouse in the following ways:

  • Conduct a full query of the Clearinghouse as part of every pre-employment driver investigation process.
  • Conduct limited queries at least annually for every driver on their payroll.
  • Request electronic consent from the driver for any full query, including pre-employment queries.
  • Report their drivers’ drug and alcohol program violations.
  • Record any negative return-to-duty (RTD) test results and the date of successful completion of a follow-up testing plan for any employed driver with unresolved violations.

I am Ready to Register with Clearinghouse

Frequently Asked Questions

While registering with the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH) is not mandatory for drivers, we strongly recommend it. Registration is necessary for drivers to grant consent for pre-employment/full queries and if any violations are reported on them. Essentially, drivers seeking new employment or with reported violations must register. Additionally, drivers are required to designate their Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) to assist with the return-to-duty process. Registered drivers can also access their information in the Clearinghouse.

An employer falls under the jurisdiction of the FMCSA drug & alcohol testing program and must adhere to Clearinghouse regulations if either the employer or their employees:

  • Hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), or a similar license issued by Mexico or Canada, and
  • Operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) in any state.

A CMV is typically defined as a vehicle that meets one of the following criteria:

  • Has a gross vehicle weight rating/gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight rating/gross combination weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or
  • Is designed to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver), or
  • Regardless of size, is used to transport hazardous materials that require the vehicle to be placarded.