FMCSA Clearinghouse Update Technical Difficulties

January 6, 2020 marked the date CDL employers were required to start using the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse website.

CDL employers are only required to use the Clearinghouse when

Hiring a new driver for a pre-employment drug and alcohol record search for new employee applicants, on or after January 6, 2020Once a year to run a query on a CDL driver for drug & alcohol violations (this can be anytime in 2020).

January 6, 2020 is the compliance deadline, not a registration deadline.

That said the FMCSA has been experiencing technical issues due to high volume of traffic and users.

FMCSA has posted the following notice: If you are an employer currently experiencing technical difficulties accessing the Clearinghouse and are unable to conduct required pre-employment queries, you may hire a driver using solely the procedures set forth in 49 CFR 391.23(e) (Basically, what you did before the clearinghouse went into effect, previous employment history last 3 years).

Once FMCSA has determined and announced that users are able to access the Clearinghouse, pre-employment queries must also be conducted as required by section 382.701(a).