FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Last reviewed · By Chad Griffith
The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a federal database, operated by FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 382 Subpart G, that tracks commercial driver license (CDL) holders' drug and alcohol program violations. Employers must query the Clearinghouse before hiring a CDL driver (pre-employment query) and annually for current employees (annual query). Drivers cannot perform safety-sensitive functions while in 'prohibited' status. The Clearinghouse launched in January 2020 and replaced the previous patchwork of state and employer-by-employer reporting. Failure to query the Clearinghouse is among the most expensive FMCSA violations, with penalties up to $6,386 per occurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must query the Clearinghouse?
Per 49 CFR 382.701, motor carriers, lessors, and employers of CDL holders performing safety-sensitive functions must query the Clearinghouse: (1) pre-employment full query before hiring; (2) annual limited query for every current CDL employee. Drivers must register and consent to queries through their own Clearinghouse account at clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov.
What violations are reported to the Clearinghouse?
Reportable violations include: positive drug test results, positive alcohol test results (BAC ≥0.04), refusals to test, actual knowledge of drug or alcohol use, and successful return-to-duty completion. Service Agents (consortia, MROs, SAPs) and employers all have reporting obligations. Reporting deadlines are typically 'next business day' for most events.
How long do violations stay in the Clearinghouse?
Per 49 CFR 382.711, violations remain in the Clearinghouse for five years from the date of the violation, or until the driver completes return-to-duty requirements (whichever is later). Successful completion of return-to-duty does not remove the record but allows the driver to perform safety-sensitive functions again.
What happens if an employer skips Clearinghouse queries?
Each missed pre-employment query is a violation. Each missed annual query is a violation. Penalties under 49 CFR 386 Appendix B reach $6,386 per violation in 2026 (inflation-adjusted). FMCSA compliance reviews routinely audit Clearinghouse query records and flag missing queries by driver and date.
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