February 12, 2020
Changes to FMCSA Regulations: Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented a new system to better track drug and alcohol tests in January 2020. Going forward, trucking companies can send queries to the FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to get all drug and alcohol test records for each driver. This new regulation replaces the need to contact a driver’s previous employer for drug testing information.
The goals of the Clearinghouse according to the FMCSA are to:
- Make it easier for employers to conduct their pre-employment investigation
- Make it harder for drivers to hide previous drug and alcohol violations
- Provide roadside inspectors with drug and alcohol data to properly evaluate drivers
- Allow the FMCSA better access to determine drug and alcohol rules are being followed by trucking companies
The Clearinghouse will eventually replace the need for truck company owners to contact a driver’s previous employers for any drug and alcohol testing results.
Important: No other company can register under the Clearinghouse on your behalf. However, once you’ve registered, Motor Carrier HQ or another company as your consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA) can help run queries for you.
If you are a driver and you haven’t registered under the Clearinghouse, we recommend taking the time to do so. If you have any questions about how to register, give Motor Carrier HQ a call. We’d be happy to help you out.
Want to learn more? Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about the Clearinghouse.