In only about two months, it will be mandatory for safety-sensitive motor carriers and drivers who operate in the United States to register with the FMSCA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Before the deadline arrives, it is important for these carriers and drivers to understand what it means and how to comply.
What is the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
The Clearinghouse is an online registry and database that will track any safety-sensitive driver’s non-negative results from a drug or alcohol test. It will also include details about those drivers’ participation in duty to work programs.
The Clearinghouse will help employers to hire safe drivers because they will be able to check the database prior to hiring as well as annually during the course of each driver’s employment. All information about drug and alcohol violations will remain in the database for a minimum five years or until the driver has completed their return to duty process.
What Employers Need to Know
Once registration opens, employers, as well as owner-operators, will be required to register for the Clearinghouse in order to make enquires about drivers and pull up their reports. Employers should also designate a Third Party Administrator (TPA) who can make enquires on their behalf.
Employers will be responsible to report the following to the Clearinghouse:
- Positive drug tests.
- Alcohol tests in which blood alcohol level is 0.04 or greater.
- Refusal to take a drug or alcohol test.
- “Actual knowledge” violations
- Negative return to duty test results.
What Drivers Need to Know
Safety sensitive drivers must create an account with the Clearinghouse that allows employers report as well as access reports on any drug or alcohol violations. Drivers must give consent for this within the Clearinghouse portal. Drivers may also use the portal to pull up their own reports and will have the opportunity to have incorrect information removed or updated
Owner-operators must designate a Third Party Administrator (TPA) that will manage their drug and alcohol testing and who will input that information into the Clearinghouse database.
Contact Trux Solutions for Help
Although employers and drivers are not required to register for the Clearinghouse until it comes into effect this January, it is best to set up your account now so that your operations will continue to run smoothly after January 6th. If you would like assistance to make sure that you are compliant with these new regulations, contact Trux Solutions today. We would be happy to assist you.
For More Details
