FMCSA Final Rule Establishes Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers
The database will service as a repository for records of violations
The DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a final rule that establishes a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck and bus drivers, according to a report. The database will be used as a repository for violations of the drug and alcohol testing program by CDL holders.
“An overwhelming majority of the nation’s freight travels by truck, and millions of passengers reach their destinations by bus, so creating a central, comprehensive, and searchable database of commercial motor vehicle drivers who violate federal drug and alcohol testing requirements has been a departmental priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This system will be a new technological tool that will make our roads safer.”
Motor carriers will be required to use the system to find out if current or prospective employees who have unresolved violations that would prohibit them from operating a vehicle. Net benefits of this program are an estimated $42 million.
“This is a major safety win for the general public and the entire commercial motor vehicle industry,” said FMCSA Administrator Scott Darling. “The clearinghouse will allow carriers across the country to identify current and prospective drivers who have tested positive for drugs or alcohol, and employ those who drive drug- and alcohol-free. Drivers who test positive for drugs or alcohol will no longer be able to conceal those test results from employers and continue to drive while posing a safety risk to the driving public.”