CDL Clearinghouse is Here: What Collectors and Alcohol Testing Technicians Must Do
A couple of months ago we wrote about the new CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, touching on some of the responsibilities of drug and alcohol professionals. In case you missed that article which outlines what the CDL Clearinghouse is and its purpose, you can read that article here. However, with the looming January 2020 launch date of the CDL Clearinghouse, we wanted to take some time to detail what is required of Urine Drug Screen Collectors, Breath Alcohol Testing and Screening Test Technicians when performing a drug or alcohol test on a CDL holder. Before we cover the requirements, let’s clarify the who, what and when of these new requirements.
What is a CDL and who is a CDL Holder?
CDL stands for Commercial Driver’s License. Holders of a CDL are most likely truck drivers, both interstate and intrastate. Simply put, CDL holders can be truck drivers driving 18-wheel trucks across state lines or drivers of smaller rigs transporting goods only within a given state. CDL holders can also be bus drivers transporting passengers across state lines.
What is the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
The FMCSA’s CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a national database containing information pertaining to DOT drug and alcohol violations for holders of Commercial Drivers Licenses. All drug and alcohol violations must be reported to the Clearinghouse by MROs, employers, substance abuse professionals, consortia/TPAs and other service agents.
Employers will be required to query the CDL Clearinghouse for new and prospective employees for any previous drug or alcohol violations before allowing them to operate a commercial vehicle. They will also be required to query the database annually for each employed CDL license holder.
Collector, BAT and STT Requirements
Beginning January 6, 2020, all urine drug screen professionals, breath alcohol testing technicians and screening test technicians must document the CDL driver’s license number and state of issuance in the Employee Identification section of the testing form. Urine drug screen professionals will document the CDL number and state of issuance in section C of the Custody and Control Form. BATs and STTs will document this information in section 1 line B of the alcohol testing form. According to the FMCSA, you will no longer use the employee’s social security or employee ID number in these sections, only the CDL information.
Where do I get the CDL Information?
The employer is responsible for providing the CDL information to the testing technician. If the employer does not supply this information, you must contact the employer to obtain it. If the employer is not available, we recommend asking the employee to see their CDL license. If the employee cannot produce their CDL, we strongly recommend documenting in the remarks section of the form that the “CDL information was not provided by the employer and could not be obtained from the employer or employee”. Only in this scenario do we recommend using the social security or employee ID number in the identification field on the form, so that it does not remain blank. If the CDL information was not documented on the testing form but you made the recommended remarks on the testing form, the MRO or Employer will know they must obtain the CDL information in order to report any positive tests to the CDL Clearinghouse.
Training
AlcoPro’s online Specimen Collector, BAT and STT courses have been updated to reflect the new CDL Clearinghouse requirements. We strongly recommend all training instructors immediately begin training their testing technicians on the new requirements so that your services and testing programs are ready to adopt the new procedures.
For BATs using the Alco-Sensor RBT IV, you can type in the numeric values of the CDL using the RBT IV keypad. You will not be able to enter any alpha characters on the keypad. You must still hand write the full CDL number and state of issuance on line B of the ATF.
George Park says
I have been unable to find the reference for the above direction related to use of drivers license numbers / States of ID vice SSN’s / Employee id #’s Could you send me a reference to the directive per FMCSA. Thanks!
Jennie Lee-Pace says
Hi George.
We also communicated directly with Juan at the FMCSA who confirmed to use the CDL information in the ID field instead of a social security number or employee ID number.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOT/bulletins/2574951
We also attended a DATIA webinar put on by a FMCSA consultant, who’s name escapes me at present. He also confirmed the usage of the CDL information.
terrie watson says
What is the exact web address for the Clearinghouse
Lee Mauk says
1). In this announcement, you referenced drivers of “city buses”. While they do have a CDL, they are covered under FTA (Federal Transit Administration), not FMCSA. An FTA drug test violation is not recorded on the FMCSA Clearinghouse. By including drivers of city buses, you provided wrong information.
2). George Park asked for a reference, which I take to be a regulation. Please direct him to 49 CFR Part 382.705.
Jennie Lee-Pace says
Lee. We had the same skepticism and were advised by Dick Brown anyone with a CDL license, which includes bus drivers interstate and intrastate. This is the information we received as part of the recent DATIA Clearinghouse webinar put on last week by Dick Brown. We also were under the assumption it was CDL holders falling only under FMCSA. However, it would stand to reason that any and all CDL holders, regardless of the operating agency, would be subject to the same employer queries in an effort to qualify new hires and monitor current employees. I believe that webinar is archived on DATIAs site. Here’s a link to sign in and see the webinar. https://datia.peachnewmedia.com/store/streaming/index.php. The webinar is “Clearing the way for FMCSA implementation”. Mr. Brown also included school bus drivers, which I failed to include in my article.
Jennie Lee-Pace says
Hi Terri.
https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Dick Brown says
At This time Only FMCSA is reporting to the National Clearinghouse. That would include school buses that fall under FMCSA. But not City wide regional transportation that falls under ( FTA ) Federal Transit Authority , would not report.
Jennie Lee-Pace says
Hi Dick.
Thank you for responding here. We actually attended the webinar and were left scratching our heads. Just to clarify before we edit the blog for accuracy…not city bus drivers….but interstate bus drivers and some school bus drivers. Do we have that correct?
Jennie
Julie Myers says
Just double checking to see if the COC is being revised to reflect the CDL #. I have not found anything that states that it will be.
Jennie Lee-Pace says
Hi Julie.
Our understanding is…at this time, there are no changes to the ATF or CCF.
Mandy Cole says
Clearinghouse will not allow me to inbput driver’s information from my desktop to schedule testing; can you help
Jennie Lee-Pace says
Hi Mandy.
We are not in a position to troubleshoot the Clearinghouses website. You will need to contact the persons responsible for that website.
Jennie
Julia Spiller says
Will a driver’s license number be required on all federal/non-federal COCs, and ATF forms? Or is it only required for FMCSA drug screens/breath alcohol tests only?
Jennie Lee-Pace says
Hello Julia.
Only truck drivers and bus drivers who fall under the FMCSA agency will need to have their driver’s licenses recorded on the COC and ATF forms.