Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Regulation Cleared White House
On Monday, October 31 the “drug and alcohol clearinghouse final rule holders cleared the White House Office of Management and Budget.” While the final rule isn’t public, details on this drug and alcohol clearinghouse are not available aside from what the agency distributed in an abstract.
“The rulemaking, according to the agency abstract, would create a central database for verified positive controlled substances and alcohol test results for CDL holders and refusals by such drivers to submit to testing. Employers of CDL holders and service agents would be required to report positive test results and refusals into the clearinghouse.”
Before hiring, a prospective employer would check the clearinghouse before allowing the potential employee to be hired for a commercial motor vehicle position.
“Proponents of the rulemaking say it would increase highway safety by ensuring that CDL holders, who have tested positive or have refused to submit to testing, have completed the return-to-duty process before driving a truck. It is also intended to ensure that employers are meeting their drug and alcohol testing responsibilities.
“FMCSA originally proposed the rule in February 2014, and OMB received the final rule in May of this year.
Federal Register will be publishing the final ruling within the coming weeks.
SRS is keeping a close eye on this rule and has plans to create a cost-effective consortium for reporting and accessing clearinghouse information.