Is FMCSA / Clearinghouse set up Mandetory?
Yes, the DOT (Department of Transportation) mandates that trucking companies establish and utilize the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) Clearinghouse for drug and alcohol violations. This database, maintained by the DOT, is crucial for tracking and preventing drug and alcohol violations by commercial drivers.
So, what does this do for a Transportation Company and a Safety Manager? This imporant repository of drug test violations report is critical to identify a driver who is a drug addict or who has drug test violation in the past. This helps keep the road safe for the general public and helps prevent fatal accidents. Please note the following important action items pertaining to safety compliance and Clearinghouse account:
- Mandatory Compliance: All trucking companies with an operating authority, including owner-operators, are required to register in the Clearinghouse and conduct yearly queries on each driver they employ. So, if you do not have a Clearinghouse account, you need to set it up at this site: Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse . If you need any help, call IPS Drug Testing at 248-526-9000 or got to Icontact us by clicking this link: IPS Drug Testing
- Pre-Employment Queries: Before hiring a driver, companies must conduct a full query of the Clearinghouse to check for any prior violations. A Pre-employment Query done at the Clearinghouse portal helps a safety manager discover any past violations that a new driver may have had. It also gives the entire history of a drug violation and fFollow Up Drug Testing activities. A driver with violation must follow a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) Program. For more information on SAP, you click here Substance Abuse Professional SAP Plan and Process
- Annual Queries: Companies must also conduct limited queries of the Clearinghouse at least annually for each driver they currently employ. This is mandetory for Trucking companies to monitor drivers behavior and keep the workplace drug free. For more information on Queries click here What are DOT Queries and When Do I Run Them?
- Reporting Violations: The Clearinghouse is used to report drug and alcohol program violations, and companies must ensure that all violations are properly recorded and reported. When a driver is found positive, a Trucking Company must report it to the Clearinghouse. it is Manadetroy. Drug Test can also be reported by a Trucking Company’s Medical Review Officer (MRO) or the Consortium Third Party Administrator (C/TPA). IPS Drug Testing Services always report violation for its client to keep its clients (trucking companies) Safety Compliant.
- Return-to-Duty (RTD) and Follow Up Testing: Companies must also record the negative RTD test results and successful completion of follow-up testing plans for any drivers with unresolved drug and alcohol violations. When a driver is found positive, he must take a Return to Duty Test (RTD) drug test and also complete ALL Follow Up Drug Tests within a period of time described by the SAP. A negative RTD result must be uploaded to the Clearinghouse so that the driver can be on the road and oncethe last Follow Up drug test is taken, it needs to be reproted to the Clearinhouse to indicate the driver has completed his SAP plan. It is important that all tests are taken by the driver to stay safety compliant. if not done, the driver runs the risk of getting demoted from CDL Class A license and not be able to be on the road.
For more information please call 248-526-9000 or go to IPS Drug Testing website and submit inquiry on its IPS Drug Testing Contact Us Page
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