FMCSA DOT Clearinghouse
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse was created by an act of Congress and went into effect on January 6. 2020 to give employers real-time access to information about commercial driver drug and alcohol program violations. This new online database directly impacts how organizations hire commercial drivers and is required for any company and driver who operates within the FMCSA regulations.
The FMCSA Clearinghouse EMPLOYER Requirements:
Registration – FMCSA regulated employers must register their company with the Clearinghouse. The database will pull your company information from other FMCSA systems using your USDOT Number. Registration is free.
Designate your C/TPA – Registered companies will be required to designate any C/TPAs that they do business with in the Clearinghouse to allow the C/TPA access the Clearinghouse database on the employer’s behalf. All Owner-Operators (employers who employ themselves as CDL drivers as a single driver operation) are required to designate a C/TPA in the Clearinghouse.
Pre-Employment Screening – Employers are required to run detailed database full queries on all applicants they are planning to hire for regulated positions to ensure they do not have outstanding positive test results. Applicant is required to be registered with the clearinghouse.
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 full query will then be required.
Reporting – Report drug and alcohol testing violations to the Clearinghouse, refusals to take a drug or alcohol test, and any actual knowledge of a violation. Employers must also report negative return-to-duty (RTD) test results and the successful completion of a driver’s follow-up testing plan.
Training – Train your Designated Employer Representative (DER) and safety officers on the required documentation for reporting “actual knowledge” of drugs or alcohol use while operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)
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How Alloy Physical Care Can Help
As a Consortia Third Party Administrator (C/TPA), Alloy Physical Care can assist you in navigating the registration and compliance process with the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Services available include:
- Compliance Consultation and Registration Assistance
- Pre-employment and Annual Clearinghouse Query Assistance
- Owner-operator reporting and Clearinghouse requirement assistance
- Assist drivers to correct inaccurate information contained in the clearinghouse
- Employer Clearinghouse Reporting assistance for positive alcohol tests and employer determined refusals to test
- SAP Required Return to Duty and Follow-up Testing Program Management and Reporting
- DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing Consortium & Testing
- DOT Policy Development
- DER and Supervisor Training
SAP Required Return to Duty and Follow-up Testing Program Management
When a FMCSA regulated driver tests positive for drug or alcohol, that positive result is reported to the Clearinghouse and the individual is prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions until the Return to Duty process is complete. The return-to-duty process includes an evaluation by a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) who will recommend an education/treatment plan and follow-up testing program. AZC Drug Testing can manage the return to duty program as set by your SAP and make sure all follow up test are completed as ordered and complete the necessary reporting to the FMCSA Clearinghouse.