When it comes to ensuring safety on the roads, trucking companies and their drivers must adhere to strict regulations. One of the most important regulations is the Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test. This test is designed to check for substance abuse among transportation employees, including drivers. In the past, drug test results were kept in various databases and were difficult to track. This changed in 2020 with the introduction of the FMCSA Clearinghouse. But who reports to the FMCSA Clearinghouse, and what is the role of this new database? In this blog post, we’ll explore the answers to these questions and more.
Before we dive into who reports to the FMCSA Clearinghouse, it’s important to understand what a DOT drug test is and its purpose. A DOT drug test is a drug screen given to transportation employees to ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road. The drug test screens for a variety of substances, including marijuana, cocaine, and opiates. It’s essential that transportation employees pass this test to ensure they are in good physical condition to operate a vehicle.
Now, let’s talk about the FMCSA Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that was created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to help carriers, drivers, medical review officers (MROs), and other authorized parties identify and track DOT drug and alcohol program violations. The Clearinghouse includes information about drivers who have violated drug and alcohol testing regulations, including positive test results, refusals to test, and other violations.
So, who actually reports to the FMCSA Clearinghouse? In short, anyone who has a role in the DOT drug and alcohol testing process. This includes employers, MROs, third-party administrators (TPAs), and substance abuse professionals (SAPs). Employers and MROs are required to report drug and alcohol program violations to the Clearinghouse. Employers or their designate TPA must also conduct queries on current and prospective employees. MROs must report verified positive test results, medical refusals to test, and other testing violations to the Clearinghouse. TPAs are responsible for entering data on behalf of employers, and SAPs are responsible for evaluating employees who have violated DOT drug and alcohol regulations and report eligibility for Return to Duty testing.
It’s worth noting that owner-operators are also required to register with the Clearinghouse, even if they don’t have any employees. This is because they are considered both the employer and the employee when it comes to the drug and alcohol testing regulations. They must designate a TPA to manage their Clearinghouse FMCSA account.
Understanding who reports to the FMCSA Clearinghouse is essential for any employer or transportation company involved in the DOT drug and alcohol testing process. The Clearinghouse is designed to improve safety on the roads and ensure compliance with DOT regulations. Employers, MROs, TPAs, SAPs, and even owner-operators all have a role to play in reporting and querying the Clearinghouse. By doing so, we can help prevent drug and alcohol-related accidents on our highways and keep our roads safe for everyone.
FMCSA mandate can be intimidating including the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Workplace Screening Intelligence can help you manage the Clearinghouse and all other FMCSA testing mandates. If you need help with FMCSA mandates or need to order a drug test today, call our support team at 844-573-8378 or [email protected]