Trucking Drug & Alcohol Testing Database - What You Should Know
Truckers' Drug & Alcohol Testing Database… What You Should Know
ON DECEMBER 2, 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a final rule that establishes a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck and bus drivers.
The clearinghouse database will serve as a central repository containing records of violations of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing program by commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders.
The final rule requires motor carriers, medical review officers, third-party administrators, and substance abuse professionals to report information to the clearinghouse related to violations of the drug and alcohol regulations in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, part 40 and part 382 by current and prospective employees. This includes information about drivers who:
• Test positive for drugs or alcohol;
• Refuse drug and alcohol testing; and
• Undergo the return-to-duty drug and alcohol rehabilitation process. Additionally, the clearinghouse final rule requires:
• Employers to query the clearinghouse for current and prospective employees’ drug and alcohol violations before permitting those employees to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on public roads;
• Employers to annually query the clearinghouse for each driver they currently employ;
• State Driver Licensing Agencies to query the clearinghouse whenever a CDL is issued, renewed, transferred, or upgraded.
The clearinghouse will enable employers to identify drivers who commit a drug or alcohol program violation while working for one employer, but who fail to subsequently inform another employer (as required by current regulations).
Records of drug and alcohol program violations will remain in the clearinghouse for five years, or until the driver has completed the return-to-duty process, whichever is later. The national drug and alcohol clearinghouse final rule goes into effect on January 4, 2017, with a compliance date of January 6, 2020.
Additional Information:
For more information about the clearinghouse and drug and alcohol testing, please consult the following resources:
• Commercial Drivers License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Driver Resources and Downloads
• Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Final Rule
• Employer Resources and Downloads
• Final Rule: Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Powerpoint) - A brief overview of FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Final Rule, including information on reporting, querying, and fees
• Overview of Drug and Alcohol Rules for Drivers
• Overview of Drug and Alcohol Rules for Employers
• Part 382 – Controlled Substances and Alcohol Use and Testing
• Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs
• U.S. DOT Drug & Alcohol Supervisor Training Guidance
Owner Operator Direct provides top notch commercial trucking insurance to owner operators, whether operating with authority or as leased drivers. For a no-obligation quote, give us a ring at 800-499-1044 (Monday-Friday 9-5 pm ET) or answer some questions online and we'll email you one.