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Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released additional resources regarding the implementation of its Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. This News Brief provides some background information on the Clearinghouse and highlights the new resources available to CDL holders, employers, state driver licensing agencies, medical review officers and substance abuse professionals.
What Is the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that gives employers, the FMCSA, state driver licensing agencies and law enforcement personnel real-time access to important information about CDL driver drug and alcohol program violations. In addition, the Clearinghouse will:
- Centralize testing processing for CDL holders who operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
- Help employers and other parties identify ineligible drivers by allowing stakeholders to see if CDL drivers of interest have violated federal drug and alcohol testing program requirements.
- Ensure that drivers who commit drug and alcohol program violations complete the necessary steps before getting back on the road or performing any other safety-sensitive function.
As of Jan. 6, 2020, motor carriers will be required to use the Clearinghouse to check on a current employee’s status at least once per year.
What New Resources Are Available for Employers?
The FMCSA has created a resource webpage that provides a number of informative tools:
- A comprehensive fact sheet
- An implementation timeline
- A list of frequently asked questions
Stakeholders can use the webpage to sign up to receive email updates as the Clearinghouse implementation progresses.
If you have additional questions or are looking for assistance, don’t hesitate to contact The Safegard Group.