Employees/Drivers

Which drivers are covered by the Clearinghouse?

Any driver who holds a CDL (CDL driver) and meets the requirements of the CDL standards (49 CFR Part 383), and the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program (Part 382). References to CDL drivers also includes CLP drivers.

How CDL drivers use the Clearinghouse

Registered CDL drivers use the Clearinghouse to:

• Provide electronic consent to release detailed drug and/or alcohol violation information in your Clearinghouse record to a current or prospective employer (when an employer conducts a full query).
• Review your own Clearinghouse record and initiate the process to revise or remove incorrectly entered information.
• Identify a substance abuse professional (SAP) to report on RTD activities, if you have an unresolved drug and alcohol program violation in your Clearinghouse record.

A prohibited status now costs you your CDL

Since 18 November 2024, a Prohibited Clearinghouse status means your State Driver Licensing Agency must downgrade your CDL or CLP, and cannot renew, upgrade or transfer it. You get your commercial driving privileges back by completing the return-to-duty process — so the sooner you start, the sooner that resolves.

Designating your SAP

A SAP cannot record anything for you until you have designated them and they have accepted. The order is:

• Register in the Clearinghouse yourself, if you have not already.
• Contact the SAP first and establish a relationship. Check they are registered in the Clearinghouse — if they are not, they cannot accept your request.
• Log in, and from your Driver Dashboard choose to designate your substance abuse professional. Search using the exact name the SAP registered under.
• Send the request. Your dashboard will show when the SAP has accepted it.

Go to https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov. In the upper right, click on “LEARN”. You will find several informative links, including the Driver Brochure, which provides very important information.

Email [email protected] with any questions.