An Employee’s Guide to the FMCSA Clearinghouse

The FMCSA Clearinghouse is a highly secured online database that gives employers, employees, and other authorized users access to real-time information about drug and alcohol program violations committed by CDL (commercial drivers license) and CLP (commercial learner’s permit) holders.

With the data available, employees will see their drug and/or alcohol results and if they have already completed the follow-up testing recommendations. It will serve as a guide for them to know if they are now eligible to return back to safety-sensitive duties.

Benefits of FMCSA Clearinghouse

One of the biggest benefits of the FMCSA Clearinghouse is that it can improve safety on the roadways by providing employers with current data they need to make informed decisions on whether or not the employee can safely return to safety-sensitive duties.

It also provides employees with a one-stop information center. Employees must register for the Clearinghouse so they can view their records (such as history of drug and/or alcohol test violations), and to provide current or prospective employers with consent to conduct a full query, including pre-employment queries. If an employee does not consent to the query, it will hold up their process of returning to safety-sensitive duties. Employees can also request for incorrect information to be removed, or updated, from their records, as well as keep track of their own return-to-duty process

Return to Duty Process

If you failed a drug and/or alcohol test, you must be removed from safety-sensitive duties immediately. As per DOT regulation 49 CFR Part 40, you then must complete the return-to-duty process. You’ll need to receive an evaluation with a qualified DOT Substance Abuse Professional. After evaluation, the SAP will recommend treatment and/or education which the employee must comply with before they undergo a second evaluation in order to be cleared to submit to a return to duty drug and/or alcohol test.

Get in Touch With the SRS

Do you want to learn more about how the process works and how to find Substance Abuse Professionals quickly? If you want to know more about the FMCSA Clearinghouse, we can also help. Please reach out to us today.