What is the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a critical resource designed to improve safety on the roads by maintaining a centralized database of violations related to controlled substances and alcohol for commercial drivers. You can learn more about them on their website here. Managed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), this national clearinghouse provides a secure, real-time online resource for employers, licensing authorities, and other authorized users to check the drug and alcohol violations of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders.
For companies managing CDL drivers, compliance with the drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration requirements is essential to ensure that your drivers are qualified and that your business stays within federal regulations. Failing to comply with clearinghouse regulations can lead to serious penalties, which is why staying informed and organized is crucial.
The Purpose of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Before we dive into the drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration process, it’s important to understand why this clearinghouse exists. The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse was created to prevent drivers with violations from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) before they’ve completed the necessary return-to-duty process. By having a centralized database, the FMCSA ensures that employers can easily access the driving histories of prospective and current drivers, reducing the likelihood of non-compliant drivers operating on the road.
This federal drug and alcohol clearinghouse is vital for keeping roads safer and for making sure that drivers who’ve violated substance abuse policies are properly monitored. In addition, it’s an important resource for employers to stay compliant with federal regulations when hiring and monitoring drivers.
Who Needs to Register for the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
Both employers and CDL drivers must comply with drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration. Whether you’re a driver seeking a job, an employer hiring CDL drivers, or a consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA), registration is required to access the database and remain compliant with FMCSA regulations.
CDL Drivers
For CDL drivers, registering with the clearinghouse is mandatory for any driver who operates a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. This includes all CDL and Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) holders who are required to complete drug and alcohol testing.
Drivers must provide consent before employers can conduct queries regarding their drug and alcohol history. This consent is obtained through the drug and alcohol clearinghouse consent form, which must be submitted by the driver during the hiring process.
Employers of CDL Drivers
Employers of CDL drivers are required to register in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and conduct queries on both current and prospective employees to verify their compliance with federal drug and alcohol testing regulations. Employers must also report any drug and alcohol violations committed by their drivers to the clearinghouse.
As part of their responsibilities, employers are required to run:
- Pre-employment queries: Before hiring a driver, the employer must query the clearinghouse to check the driver’s drug and alcohol violation history.
- Annual queries: Employers must run at least one query per year for each driver to ensure ongoing compliance.
SEE HOW DRIVERS FILES ONLINE CAN HELP
How to Register for the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
The FMCSA drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration process is relatively straightforward, but it’s important to follow all the necessary steps to ensure compliance. Below are the steps for drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration for CDL drivers and employers.
CDL Driver Registration
- Create an Account: To get started, CDL drivers must create an account on the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse website. This can be done by visiting the FMCSA website and following the registration instructions.
- Consent to Queries: After registering, drivers must provide electronic consent through the clearinghouse portal to allow their employers to access their drug and alcohol violation records. This is done by completing the drug and alcohol clearinghouse consent form.
- Maintain Up-to-Date Information: Drivers should regularly log in to their clearinghouse accounts to ensure that their information is up to date and that they remain in compliance with federal regulations.
Employer Registration
Employers are also required to create an account in the clearinghouse. The registration process includes:
- Create a Clearinghouse Account: Visit the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse website and create an account. Employers can register as a company or as a consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA).
- Set Up Query Plans: Employers must purchase a query plan to run pre-employment and annual queries on their drivers. Query plans can be purchased through the clearinghouse portal.
- Run Queries: Once the employer has registered and purchased a query plan, they can begin running pre-employment and annual queries to check their drivers’ compliance with drug and alcohol regulations.
- Report Violations: Employers are required to report any drug and alcohol violations committed by their drivers to the clearinghouse. This includes positive drug or alcohol tests, refusals to take a test, and other violations.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Consent Forms
One of the critical steps in the drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration process for both CDL drivers and employers is the submission of the drug and alcohol clearinghouse consent form. This form allows employers to access a driver’s drug and alcohol violation history through the clearinghouse. Without driver consent, employers cannot conduct the required queries.
Employers should be aware that drivers can revoke their consent at any time, so it’s important to ensure that all necessary forms are submitted and up to date. For CDL drug and alcohol clearinghouse queries, having proper consent is essential to remaining compliant with federal regulations.
You can view a sample format from the FMCSA to get a better understanding.
What Information is Stored in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
The FMCSA drug and alcohol clearinghouse stores critical data about violations related to controlled substances and alcohol. Specifically, the clearinghouse tracks:
- Positive test results for drug or alcohol tests.
- Refusals to test: Instances where a driver refused to submit to drug or alcohol testing are reported.
- Return-to-duty status: If a driver has violated the regulations, their return-to-duty process is tracked to ensure they’ve completed the necessary steps to get back on the road.
- Follow-up testing: Follow-up testing conducted as part of the return-to-duty process is also reported in the clearinghouse.
Employers, state licensing authorities, and other authorized users have access to this information to ensure that drivers are compliant and eligible to operate a CMV.
Staying Compliant with Driver Files Online
While the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse helps ensure that drivers remain compliant with federal drug and alcohol regulations, managing overall driver compliance can still be overwhelming for many CDL companies. That’s where Driver Files Online comes in.
Our software is designed to help CDL companies stay on top of driver qualifications, compliance requirements, and ongoing monitoring needs. Whether it’s managing drug and alcohol clearinghouse queries or tracking CDL license expirations, Driver Files Online streamlines compliance management, ensuring that your drivers remain fully qualified to operate.
How Driver Files Online Can Help:
- Organized Driver Files: Managing driver compliance records can be complicated for everyone, including larger companies. Driver Files Online makes it easy to store and organize driver qualification files, including records related to drug and alcohol testing.
- Online Driver Application: Send prospective drivers to an online portal where they can complete a DOT compliant application for employment.
- Automated Reminders: Our system sends automated reminders for important compliance deadlines, such as CDL license renewals, medical card expirations, and annual drug and alcohol queries. This ensures that no compliance deadline is ever missed.
- Compliance Monitoring: Driver Files Online allows companies to monitor driver compliance in real-time. If a driver’s CDL license or medical card expires, the system will notify the company, helping prevent drivers from operating while non-compliant.
- Managed Services: Don’t have the time to do driver verifications yourself? No problem, our team can handle the qualification for you!
By using Driver Files Online, CDL companies can stay compliant with FMCSA drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration requirements while also managing other critical compliance needs.
FAQs About the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
What is the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Phone Number?
As of late, their phone number for registered users is: (800) 832-5660. If you have questions or need assistance with your drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration, you can contact the FMCSA directly. The drug and alcohol clearinghouse phone number is available on the FMCSA website for those who need help navigating the registration process or troubleshooting issues with the clearinghouse portal.
What are the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Instructions?
Detailed drug and alcohol clearinghouse instructions are available on the FMCSA website, providing step-by-step guidance for both CDL drivers and employers. The FMCSA also offers support materials such as webinars and FAQs to help users navigate the clearinghouse registration process.
View our general FAQs and our blog for more information on driver compliance for CDL companies.
Staying Compliant with the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is an essential tool for keeping the roads safe and ensuring that drivers are compliant with federal drug and alcohol regulations. For CDL drivers and employers, understanding the drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration process is critical to staying compliant and avoiding penalties.
With Driver Files Online, managing driver compliance becomes simpler and more efficient. Our software streamlines the process of storing driver qualification files, tracking compliance deadlines, and ensuring that all necessary drug and alcohol clearinghouse queries are conducted on time.
Disclaimer:
Always refer to the latest FMCSA regulations and instructions for updates on the drug and alcohol clearinghouse registration
