It is common for local agencies, even small municipalities or park services, to employ one or more CDL licensed drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) develops standards to test and license commercial motor vehicle drivers and they have now established the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse as an online database for identifying drivers prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions, such as operating a commercial motor vehicle, due to a drug and alcohol program violation. This is a new requirement that went into effect January 6, 2020—but has now been extended to January 6, 2023—and employers and drivers need to take some fairly simple initial actions to comply. The Clearinghouse Learning Center has information to help all parties remain compliant with the rule.
Various parties are required to register with the Clearinghouse, including:
- CDL drivers
- Employers of drivers operating CMVs that require a CDL or commercial learner’s permit (CLP)
- Consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs)
- Medical review officers (MROs)
- Substance abuse professionals (SAPs)
- Enforcement personnel
For more information about this new CDL requirement, check out Delaware T²/LTAP Center's article.