Clearing House
Before you hire a driver, you are required to first query the Drug and Alcohol Clearing House. This is a program that allows employers to check whether or not prospective employees have past violations. In some cases, they may have been released from their employment due to a violation. Yet when interviewed, they did not make you aware of the existing violations. The Clearing House can uncover that for you. It's kept updated by safety officers and others who find employees in violation of the FMCSA policies over the use of drugs and alcohol on the road.
The FMCSA requires all employers to annually check the records of their drivers in the Clearing House program. If a mistake has been made, then you're encouraged to correct it.
This tool is useful for employers looking to hire drivers but don't want to take risks on repeat offenders. It can also be useful to correct mistakes that may impact your driver and your company. For example, if your driver was falsely accused of drug or alcohol use while in the operation of the vehicle, and you have the proof available, you can dispute such a claim. This can remove the penalty assigned to them and your company.
There are several different people that can make reports to the Clearing House. Employers are among those listed. Medical review officers, safety agents, and substance abuse professionals can all make a report about violations as well.
The Clearing House exists to make the roadways safer. Drivers already are a lot of stress and exhaustion. They need to remain active and aware for several hours at a time. Using drugs or alcohol can severely impair their judgment and reflexes. Because trucks are significantly larger than most of the cars on the highway, they can cause a lot of damage. By removing drivers who have a reliance on drugs and alcohol from the roadways, you can keep other drivers safe as well as your own cargo.
In order to view queries, you need to pay a fee. Knowing which plan is right for you is difficult. We can refer you to a professionals who can help you choose the kind of plan you need based on your driver pool and needs. We can also refer you to a trucking safety professional who can assist you with using the Clearing House to determine if there are any red flags about your drivers.
