The Clearinghouse will serve as a database of drug and alcohol violations of CDL drivers that will help employers, the FMCSA, state driver licensing agencies, and state law enforcement agencies to quickly and efficiently identify drivers who are not legally permitted to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) due to these violations. It will also provide access to steps necessary for the CDL drivers to complete in order to return to a safety-sensitive function, including driving.

TheThe Clearinghouse final rule was published on Dec. 5, 2016, and the Clearinghouse will open for registration in the fall of 2019. At that time, employers can set up accounts to use the Clearinghouse to report drug and alcohol violations and conduct electronic queries.

On Jan. 6, 2020, mandatory use of the clearinghouse will go into effect. Manual queries with previous employers will need to be done for the initial three years to cover the period before the Clearinghouse came into effect. After Jan. 6, 2023, only electronic queries of the Clearinghouse will suffice.

For more information and to sign up for updates from the FMCSA about the Clearinghouse, click here.