Update: 9/9/2015
The FMCSA is projecting the publication date for the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to be January 20, 2016.
For 20 years FMCSA has been working on a CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The plan is to have a government run central database of CDL holders who have tested positive for controlled substances or alcohol. The database would also have drug or alcohol refusals.(According to the Part 40 regulations, a driver that refuses to test is considered positive)
Employers looking to hire, would get a signed release from the job applicant to access any records on that driver in the CDL drug and alcohol clearinghouse. The regulation’s intent is to increase highway safety by making sure drivers are compliant with the drug and alcohol regulations. A driver that does test positive, but fulfills the return-to-duty requirements would have that information entered as well.
Under the proposed rule, FMCSA regulated truck and bus companies, Medical Review Officers (MRO), Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP), and third party DOT drug and alcohol testing laboratories as well as third party providers (Consortiums) would be required to send information to the Clearinghouse.
The new projected publication date for the final rule is December 14, 2015 but that can still be changed. There are still issues to be worked out, mainly privacy issues, accuracy and who will be paying for the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Click on this link If you would like to read the Federal Register of the proposed rule.
We will continue to update you on any progress with the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse formation.