WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has opened registration for the national drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse for commercial drivers.

As previously reported, starting in 2020, the clearinghouse database will serve as a central repository containing records of violations of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing program by commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, including school bus drivers.

“As this Congressional mandate is enacted, FMCSA’s goal is to ensure drivers, employers, and everyone who will be using the clearinghouse are registered as efficiently and effectively as possible,” said Raymond P. Martinez, the agency’s administrator. “FMCSA is here to be helpful during this implementation, and we strongly encourage all commercial motor vehicle stakeholders to get registered in the clearinghouse now.”

Registration for the clearinghouse is free, and authorized users will be able to access the online database once it is fully implemented on Jan. 6, 2020. Authorized users include:

• Drivers who hold a CDL or commercial learner’s permit (CLP).

• Employers of CDL drivers. This includes those who employ themselves as CDL drivers (owner-operators).

• Consortia/Third-Party Administrators (C/TPAs).

• Medical Review Officers (MROs).

• Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs).

How to Improve School Bus Safety with Continuous License Monitoring

Learn more about the positive effects of license monitoring.

DOWNLOAD FREE EBOOK

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, according to the FMCSA. The clearinghouse website also contains several resources, including user brochures and instructional aids with step-by-step registration instructions for all users.

For more information on the clearinghouse, go here.

Related: Feds Issue Final Rule Aiming to Cut Costs on CDL Upgrades