The CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a national database, will reduce crashes by showing a list of drivers with commercial driver’s licenses who receive violations for using controlled substances.
Promoting Safety for Commercial Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is setting up an online resource database for commercial driver’s license holders. The CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will include all drivers who are required to have a commercial driver’s license for employment. The new online resource will go into effect on January 6, 2020.
The CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is designed to reduce motor vehicle accidents and injuries on U.S. roads and highways. The online database will contain information related to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol violations received by drivers with commercial licenses. The FMCSA, CMV employers, State Driver Licensing Agencies, law enforcement officials, and substance abuse professionals will be allowed to access the database to identify CDL drivers who violate federal drug and alcohol testing program requirements.
Currently, all full-time and part-time drivers who operate commercial motor vehicles are subject to DOT requirements. This includes regular testing for alcohol levels of 0.02 or higher, drugs including marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamines, and phencyclidine (PCP). DOT drug and alcohol testing is required for:
- Prior to Employment – A driver must receive a negative drug test result before he/she can be hired to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
- After an Accident – Drug and alcohol tests are required by an employer after an accident if: (1) the commercial vehicle is disabled and must be towed away; (2) there are any crash-related injuries; (3) there are any crash-related fatalities.
- Random Testing – CDL drivers must be randomly tested throughout the year.
- Reasonable Suspicion – Any CDL driver who appears to be impaired or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol can be tested immediately by his/her employer.
- Return to Duty Followup – Any driver who has a positive test, or refuses testing, must complete counseling with a DOT substance abuse professional and receive negative drug and/or alcohol test results before he/she can resume driving duties.
The CDL Clearinghouse will provide information that identifies drivers who are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle due to federal drug and alcohol violations. To promote commercial vehicle safety, violations will remain in the Clearinghouse database for five years or until the driver completes the return-to-duty process, whichever occurs later.