FMCSA Clearinghouse 101

Categories: FMCSA
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About Course

This course is designed to provide drivers, employers, and service agents with a comprehensive understanding of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that provides real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders’ drug and alcohol violations. The course covers registration, reporting requirements, querying the Clearinghouse, and compliance with federal regulations.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to the FMCSA Clearinghouse
Purpose of the Clearinghouse: Centralized database for drug and alcohol violations. Who Must Use the Clearinghouse: Employers, drivers, medical review officers (MROs), substance abuse professionals (SAPs), and consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs). Key Terms: Query: A check on a driver’s Clearinghouse record. Violation: A positive drug test, refusal to test, or other non-compliance. Consent: Required from drivers before employers can run queries. Module 2: Registration and Access How to Register: Employers, drivers, and service agents must create an account at https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov. Required information includes USDOT number, CDL information, and personal details. Roles and Permissions: Employers: Full access to report violations and run queries. Drivers: Access to their own records and consent management. Service Agents: Limited access based on their role (e.g., MROs, SAPs). Module 3: Reporting Requirements What Must Be Reported: Positive drug or alcohol test results. Refusals to test. Actual knowledge of drug or alcohol use. Negative return-to-duty test results. Completion of follow-up testing plans. Who Reports: MROs, employers, SAPs, and C/TPAs. Module 4: Querying the Clearinghouse Types of Queries: Full Query: Requires driver consent and provides detailed violation history. Limited Query: Does not require consent but only indicates if a record exists. When to Query: Pre-employment checks. Annual queries for current drivers. Driver Consent: Must be obtained electronically through the Clearinghouse. Module 5: Compliance and Recordkeeping Record Retention: Employers must retain query results and consent forms for three years. Penalties for Non-Compliance: Fines up to $5,833 per violation. Loss of operating authority for severe or repeated violations. Module 6: Driver Rights and Responsibilities Driver Rights: Access to their own Clearinghouse record. Ability to dispute inaccurate information. Driver Responsibilities: Provide consent for queries. Complete required return-to-duty processes after a violation.

  • What is the purpiose of the clearing house?
  • Quiz for Module 1

Module 2: Registration and Access
How to Register: Employers, drivers, and service agents must create an account at https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov. Required information includes USDOT number, CDL information, and personal details. Roles and Permissions: Employers: Full access to report violations and run queries. Drivers: Access to their own records and consent management. Service Agents: Limited access based on their role (e.g., MROs, SAPs).

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