What actions must employers take in the FMCSA Clearinghouse:

• Query all prospective employees, and all current employees at least annually, who meet the definition of a CDL driver
• Report the following:
  • Certain drug and alcohol program violations
  • Negative return-to-duty (RTD) alcohol and/or controlled substances test results
  • Successful completion of a driver’s follow-up testing plan

As an employer, you have to register with the FMCSA Clearinghouse first - click here for the registration instructions.

Registered employers are able to:

• Verify company information. If you currently have a USDOT Number, the Clearinghouse will pull your contact and company information from other FMCSA systems. Register early to verify this information is up-to-date.
• Designate your C/TPA. If you work with one or more consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs), you must designate them in the Clearinghouse before they can access the Clearinghouse on your behalf. This is required of all owner-operators (employers who employ themselves as CDL drivers).
• Invite the Assistants. Send invitations to other employees who will access the Clearinghouse on your behalf, allowing them to register as part of your company or organization.
• Select and purchase a query plan. Employers will pay a fee when querying the Clearinghouse for current and prospective employees’ drug and alcohol program violations. Learn about the pricing options and select the one that works best for your business needs.

Purchasing a Query Plan

All employers of CDL drivers must purchase a query plan in the Clearinghouse. This query plan enables employers, and their consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs), to conduct queries of driver Clearinghouse records. Registered employers must log into their Clearinghouse accounts to purchase their query plan. Query plans may be purchased from the FMCSA Clearinghouse only.

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