The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has created a tutorial video to walk you through the steps for signing up for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
On January 6, 2020, the FMCSA’s mandatory Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule goes into effect, meaning that motor carriers will be required to query the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse database before hiring a driver and once per year for existing drivers.
The rule additionally requires FMCSA-regulated employers, Medical Review Officers (MROs), Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs), consortia/third party administrators (C/TPAs), and other service agents to report any drug or alcohol violations to the Clearinghouse.
While drivers are not required to register by the mandatory compliance date, they must be registered in order to to provide employers with electronic permission to query their drug and alcohol records prior to hiring. They will also be able to use the Clearinghouse to view their own drug and alcohol records.
There is no cost to use the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse except for CDL employers, who must purchase a Query plan from the FMCSA. Click here for more information on how to purchase a Query plan.
The voluntary compliance date for the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule was October 1, 2019.
You can view OOIDA’s informative video on how to sign up for the Clearinghouse below.
You can click here for more information from the FMCSA on the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.