INDUSTRY NEWS
DOT Clearinghouse Inquiries – Best Practices and Reminders
January 6, 2023 marked the official date of the DOT Clearinghouse containing three consecutive years of violation data that will satisfy pre-employment drug and alcohol investigation requirements.
The DOT Clearinghouse is a valuable tool for employers in the trucking and transportation industry. This database, established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), allows for the easy exchange of information regarding drug and alcohol violations among employers, making the pre-employment screening process more efficient and effective.
Now that the DOT Clearinghouse has three full years of violation history, FMCSA motor carriers conducting pre-employment queries via the Clearinghouse will satisfy the requirement to investigate whether a potential new hire driver has had a prior FMCSA drug and or alcohol violation as noted in 49 CFR 3921.23(e).
There are many advantages to querying the DOT Clearinghouse.
Timeliness: The DOT Clearinghouse provides real-time results, ensuring that employers have access to the most current information available when making hiring decisions. This timeliness is crucial for maintaining the safety of the traveling public, as well as for making informed personnel decisions.
Accessibility to Data: The DOT Clearinghouse provides a centralized and easily accessible database of information on drug and alcohol violations committed by commercial drivers. This eliminates the need for employers to search multiple sources or wait for information to be shared between employers, streamlining the screening process.
Compliance: The use of the DOT Clearinghouse is a compliance requirement as noted in 49 CFR 3921.23(e). Employers are required to investigate potential new hires, once an offer of employment has been extended, to see if they have a prior FMCSA drug or alcohol violation; the Clearinghouse provides an easy and reliable way to do so.
In addition to the reasons listed above, Certiphi Screening has experienced pushback from employers when attempting to perform manual drug and alcohol verifications for former or current employees. When queried for drug and alcohol violation history, many employers have been referring our researchers to the DOT Clearinghouse for verification.
For a full description of Clearinghouse requirements please reference the DOT Clearinghouse by visiting the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse website. You can also reach out to the Clearinghouse with any questions by emailing clearinghouse@dot.gov.
Posted: February 13, 2023
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