https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/
To consent to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse, which is essential for CDL drivers and their employers, you’ll need to follow specific steps. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
For Drivers:
1. **Register with the FMCSA Clearinghouse**
– Visit the official FMCSA Clearinghouse website.
– Click on “Register” and choose the option for drivers.
– Follow the prompts to create an account, including setting up a login.gov account if you don’t already have one.
2. **Complete Your Profile**
– After logging in, complete your profile by providing necessary personal information, such as your CDL number and state.
3. **Provide Consent**
– You will need to provide consent for current or prospective employers to view your Clearinghouse record. This can be done within your Clearinghouse dashboard.
– Consent to pre-employment queries must be given through the Clearinghouse website each time a prospective employer requires access.
– For ongoing annual queries by current employers, consent is typically given offline, directly to the employer, and does not need to be repeated annually in the Clearinghouse.
For Employers:
1. **Register as an Employer**
– Visit the FMCSA Clearinghouse website and select the registration option for employers.
– Follow the steps to create an account, including verifying your USDOT number and setting up billing for query plans if needed.
2. **Request Consent from Drivers**
– For pre-employment queries, request consent through the Clearinghouse by sending a consent request to the driver’s Clearinghouse account.
– For annual queries, obtain written consent outside the Clearinghouse to check the driver’s records annually. This written consent must be retained for three years.
3. **Conduct Queries**
– Once consent is obtained, you can perform the necessary queries to check the drug and alcohol program violations of your drivers.
For Queries and Reporting:
– **Employers and Medical Review Officers (MROs)** are required to report any drug and alcohol violations to the Clearinghouse.
– **Employers** must query the Clearinghouse for any prospective employees’ records and annually for current employees.
Keeping Consent Up to Date:
– Drivers should monitor their Clearinghouse accounts regularly to ensure that their consent statuses are current and to manage any consent requests from employers.
– Employers should ensure that they have current and appropriate consents on file for all employed drivers and maintain records of consent for auditing purposes.
By following these steps, drivers can comply with FMCSA regulations, and employers can ensure they are meeting their legal obligations under the Clearinghouse rules. This process helps improve safety by maintaining a database of drivers who have violated drug and alcohol testing regulations, thus ensuring such individuals receive the required evaluation and treatment before returning to safety-sensitive duties.
