DOT FMCSA Clearinghouse - Effective January 6, 2020
The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that gives employers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), and State law enforcement personnel real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders’ drug and alcohol program violations.
The Clearinghouse contains records of violations of drug and alcohol prohibitions in 49 CFR Part 382, Subpart B, including positive drug or alcohol test results and test refusals. When a driver completes the return-to-duty (RTD) process and follow-up testing plan, this information is also recorded in the Clearinghouse.
QCL is offering to take some of the weight off your shoulders by assisting with part or all of the following:
1. Reporting of a drug or alcohol violation
This will include alcohol test results with a concentration of .04 or greater, refusals to take an alcohol or drug test, as well as actual knowledge of a violation.
Reporting negative Return to Duty results and successful completion of follow-up testing programs.
The above must be reported by the end of the third business day after the employer or C/TPA is informed.
2. Conducting Annual Limited Queries
Check if prospective employees are prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions due to an unresolved drug and alcohol program violation.
All current employees must be queried at least once in a 365-day period.
All queries require driver consent.
3. Conducting Pre-employment Full Queries
Until January 6, 2023, employers are required to conduct both the electronic queries through the Clearinghouse and manual, paper inquiries to previous employers (current process).
For more information on the FMCSA Clearinghouse visit: https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/