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What is the FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?

Change is something every business has to approach. No matter how big or small these changes are they can bring confusion. One big change in the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations is the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule.

Per FMCSA this rule will provide FMCSA and employers the necessary tools to identify drivers who are prohibited from operating a CMV, making roadways safer.

The Clearinghouse rule requires FMCSA regulated employers, medical review officers (MRO), substance abuse professionals (SAP), consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPA), & other service agents to report to the Clearinghouse information related to violations of the drug & alcohol regulations in 49 code of Federal Regulations, Parts 40 & 382 by current & prospective employees. To minimize confusion, you will need to know how to get started.

Employers, their drivers, and any prospective drivers will need to create an account at https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/register. While creating your account you have the option to list administrators & a C/TPA for your account as well as purchase your query plan.

The reason you will want to list a C/TPA is because they will keep you in compliance with running your queries, reporting your violations, and walking you through the steps to get violations corrected.  

Per the Clearinghouse rule, each employer does have to run a full query on all prospective drivers as well as an annual, limited query for all current drivers. 

These queries will let you know if that driver has any violations that need to be taken care of before they can operate a CMV. Each full and each limited query does cost $1.25 each.

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