FMCSA Helping Stakeholders Prepare for Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
Commercial Driver's License holders, employers, state driver licensing agencies, medical review officers, and substance abuse professionals will begin using the agency's CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse in January 2020.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently released more online resources for Commercial Driver's License holders, employers, state driver licensing agencies, medical review officers, and substance abuse professionals who will begin using the agency's CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse in January 2020. The new clearinghouse resource webpage offers resources for commercial motor vehicle stakeholders, including a comprehensive fact sheet, implementation timeline, frequently asked questions, and more.
FMCSA's final rule establishing the clearinghouse was published in December 2016.
One of the FAQs asks whether employers may report the results of non-DOT drug or alcohol tests to the clearinghouse. The answer: "No. Only results of DOT drug or alcohol tests or refusals may be reported to the Clearinghouse. While employers may conduct drug and alcohol testing that is outside the scope of the DOT testing requirements, positive test results or refusals for such non-DOT testing may not be reported to the Clearinghouse."
CMV stakeholders also can sign up to receive clearinghouse-related email updates as the implementation progresses.
The clearinghouse will be a secure online database that will allow FMCSA, employers, state driver licensing agencies, and law enforcement officials to identify in real time CDL drivers who have violated federal drug and alcohol testing program requirements. Registrations will begin in fall 2019, and the clearinghouse implementation date is Jan. 6, 2020.
"As this congressional mandate is enacted, FMCSA's goal is to provide as many resources and updates as possible to those who will be using the upcoming Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. As we transition to the use of the clearinghouse, we will ensure drivers, employers, and state licensing agencies are kept up to date throughout the implementation process," said FMCSA Administrator Raymond P. Martinez.