The Clearinghouse gives the FMCSA and employers the resources they need to identify drivers who are ineligible to operate a CMV due to DOT drug and alcohol program violations and make sure that they obtain the necessary testing and treatment prior to operating a CMV on public roadways.
As safety consultants, we have gathered the most frequently asked questions related to the FMCSA Clearinghouse.
What is FMCSA Clearinghouse?
The Clearinghouse is a safe online database that provides employers, FMCSA, State Driver Licensing Agencies, and State law enforcement officers with up-to-date details on CDL driver drug and alcohol program violations, improving safety on our country’s roads. The Secretary of Transportation was instructed to create the Clearinghouse by congressional legislation.
As mentioned above, The FMCSA Clearinghouse was created with the intention of preventing CDL drivers who have positive drug and alcohol test results, have refused to take a test, or who have information about their return-to-duty procedure from changing jobs.
Is the FMCSA Clearinghouse mandatory?
Yes, if your company is subject to FMCSA regulation, it is mandatory. It is for all commercial truck fleets and owner-operators who require a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Employers who do not comply with the FMCSA requirements are subject to the civil and/or criminal penalties set forth at 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(C) (i.e., civil penalties not to exceed $2,500 for each offense).
Information in the FMCSA Clearinghouse database will include:
- positive drug and alcohol test results
- refusal to test, and/or
- information on CDL driver’s return-to-duty process
- if the CMV has a gross weight greater than 26,000 pounds, has more than 15 seatbelts, or is hauling anything requiring DOT HAZMAT placards.
The drivers are not required to register for the Clearinghouse. However, they will need to be registered in order to provide electronic consent If a potential or present employer has to perform a thorough search of the driver’s Clearinghouse record
How to sign up for FMCSA Clearinghouse.
- Visit https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov and click Register.
2. On the login.gov sign-in screen, click Create an account.
3. Enter your email address and click Submit. – you will receive notifications about your Clearinghouse account to this email.
4. Check your email and open the email from no-reply@login.gov, with the subject line Confirm your email. Click Confirm email address.
5. Create a Password (at least 12 characters long)
6. Select an option to secure your account and click Continue.
7. Enter your security code and click Submit.
8. You have created your login.gov account. Click Agree and continue to return to the Clearinghouse website and complete your Clearinghouse registration.
9. Select your role ( for example Driver) and click Register as a Driver.
10. Enter your contact information. All fields are required unless otherwise noted
11. Choose your preferred contact method and click Next.
12. Enter your current commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP) information. Click Verify.
13. Once your CDL information is verified, you will not be able to edit it. Click Next.
14. Review and Agree to the Terms and Conditions.
15. Your Clearinghouse registration is complete!
If you need a more detailed 14 -step registration process click here.
How long does it take for FMCSA to approve you?
Although a request for FMCSA operating permission is normally approved in 25 working days, the procedure may be prolonged if the request needs additional review.
If your application is subject to vetting, FMCSA will contact you by email. If more information is required for the evaluation, FMCSA will contact you by email and/or mail. Please get in touch with FMCSA by webform, phone, or chat if you haven’t heard from them within two weeks of the day you applied for operating authorization, and your application status is Suspended in FMCSA systems.
Does Clearinghouse cost money?
In order to conduct queries employers are charged a fee. To ensure that they or their designated C/TPAs may run queries, employers are required to obtain a query plan. C/TPAs cannot purchase queries on behalf of employers.
Working with a C/TPA to manage a drug and alcohol testing program is a requirement of all owner-operators.
How to request violation removal from the Clearinghouse?
It is necessary to provide a very detailed reason in order for the FMCSA to decide whether or not to act upon the request to have a violation removed from a driver’s record. Here’s a whole illustrated PDF instruction manual on how to ask to have a violation removed. Scroll down to pages 7 and 8.
As shown above, not complying with Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will lead to penalties during a DOT intervention.
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Here are more Clearinghouse resources that you can keep in handy every time you need them