WASHINGTON – On Monday, the Congressionally-mandated Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse website opened, and its mandatory use is now in effect. For some users, however, the site has been inaccessible.
A spokesperson for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the agency is continuing to work to resolve these technical challenges as soon as possible.
“FMCSA is working to correct ongoing connectivity issues with Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse website,” a FMCSA spokesperson said. “While many users have been able to access the database correctly, the Agency is aware that other users are experiencing difficulties with the website.”
During a conference call Monday afternoon, FMCSA told the Truckload Carriers Association that is carriers are facing this problem, attempting to hire today or conducting orientation classes, a manual query of a driver’s history of drug test results would temporarily suffice.
When the website is properly functioning, FMCSA’s clearinghouse website contains resources, including user brochures and instructional aids with step-by-step registration instructions for all users.
The clearinghouse aims to be a secure online database that will allow FMCSA, CMV employers, state driver licensing agencies, and law enforcement officials to identify – in real-time – CDL drivers who have violated federal drug and alcohol testing program requirements, and thereby improve safety on the nation’s roads.
Commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, employers, medical review officers and substance abuse professionals can visit https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov and register to create a secure online user account.
There is no cost for registration.
Commercial drivers are not required to immediately register for the clearinghouse but will need to register to respond to an employer’s request for consent prior to a pre-employment query or other full query being conducted.
Implementation of a portion of the clearinghouse rule has been delayed. The FMCSA said in September more time was needed to establish the information technology necessary to allow state drivers licensing agencies to transfer of information between the clearinghouse and those state agencies. That portion of the clearinghouse rule would now be effective January 6, 2023.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
