How Does the FMCSA Clearinghouse Affect My Employment?
On January 6, 2020, the FMCSA launched the FMCSA Clearinghouse, an online database where CDL motorists’ drug and alcohol testing violations and return-to-duty information is stored and searched. 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.
Employees, Employers, and the FMCSA Clearinghouse
The Clearinghouse provides employees with a one-stop information center. Employees must register in 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.
“The Clearinghouse improves safety on our Nation’s roadways by giving employers access to information they need to make informed safety decisions about which employees to place in safety-sensitive functions, including operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).”
The Clearinghouse allows employers to:
- Conduct a full query of the employee (Note: Employers no longer have to complete manual queries of employees, as long as they have not been employed under another DOT mode, because the Clearinghouse has been in operation for nearly 3 years.)
- Report all violations
- Record progress on a motorist’s return-to-duty process, including follow-up testing or violations
- Conduct
When an Employee Fails a Drug and/or Alcohol Test
When an employee fails a drug or alcohol test by testing positive, or registering a 0.04 or greater alcohol content, they will be immediately removed from safety-sensitive work and their results will be reported to the Clearinghouse. This ensures that even if they try to get a job with a different company, employers will be able to see their failed result, and they can not be hired for any safety-sensitive work.
After a failed test, the first step for employees is to find a qualified SAP in their area and begin the return to duty process. Once the employee has complied with their recommended treatment and/or education, and provided a negative result for a drug and/or alcohol test, they will be able to return to safety-sensitive work.
Get in touch with SRS now to start the return to duty process and get back to work quickly!