Drug & Alcohol
Clearinghouse
Registration
The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a secure online database that helps employers, government agencies, and other authorized parties track drug and alcohol program violations by commercial driver's license (CDL) holders.
Registration is mandatory for all employers of CDL drivers, CDL drivers themselves, Consortia/Third-Party Administrators (C/TPAs), and Medical Review Officers (MROs). Non-compliance can result in fines, penalties, and operational disruptions.
Three reasons registration matters
Employers can perform pre-employment and annual driver queries to verify a clean record before hiring
Violations such as positive drug tests or refusals to test are promptly reported and tracked
Employers meet their federal compliance requirements and avoid costly penalties
Non-compliance can result in fines, penalties, and disruption to your operations — don't risk it.
Registration is mandatory for
Employers of CDL drivers — any company that employs commercial drivers must register
CDL drivers — all commercial driver's license holders are required to register
C/TPAs — Consortia and Third-Party Administrators managing drug testing programs
Medical Review Officers (MROs) — professionals responsible for reviewing test results
Simple, stress-free Clearinghouse registration
Clearinghouse Registration
Setting up your account with the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Ensuring all required information is correctly submitted
Linking your business to a C/TPA if needed
Driver Registration
Helping your CDL drivers register on the Clearinghouse
Guiding drivers through the process to ensure readiness for employment checks
Compliance Management
Querying the Clearinghouse for pre-employment and annual compliance checks
Keeping your business up to date with federal requirements
Frequently asked questions
What is the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
An online database maintained by the FMCSA that tracks CDL holders' drug and alcohol program violations. It helps employers, state licensing agencies, and enforcement officials ensure compliance with FMCSA testing regulations.
Who is required to register in the Clearinghouse?
All employers of CDL drivers, CDL drivers themselves, Consortia/Third-Party Administrators (C/TPAs), and Medical Review Officers (MROs) are required to register.
What types of violations are recorded in the Clearinghouse?
Positive drug or alcohol tests, refusals to test, actual knowledge violations, and return-to-duty completion information are all recorded.
How does the Clearinghouse benefit employers?
It allows employers to quickly verify whether a driver has unresolved drug or alcohol violations before hiring, and helps maintain ongoing compliance through annual queries.
What is the cost to use the Clearinghouse?
Registration is free. However, full queries (which reveal violation details) cost $1.25 per query. Limited queries for pre-employment are free of charge.
How long is information retained in the Clearinghouse?
Violation records are retained for five years, or until the driver completes the return-to-duty process — whichever is later.
What penalties exist for non-compliance?
Employers who fail to query the Clearinghouse or report violations may face civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation under FMCSA regulations.
How often must employers query the Clearinghouse?
Employers must conduct a full query before a CDL driver's first day in a safety-sensitive position, and at least once every 12 months for all current CDL employees.
What is the return-to-duty process?
Drivers with violations must complete a substance abuse professional (SAP) evaluation, follow the prescribed treatment, pass a return-to-duty test, and complete follow-up testing before resuming safety-sensitive functions.
What should an employer do if they discover a driver violation?
The driver must be immediately removed from safety-sensitive functions. The employer must then follow the FMCSA's return-to-duty process before the driver can resume operations.
Get registered today
- Full Clearinghouse account setup
- Correct submission of all required info
- C/TPA linking if needed
- Driver registration assistance
- No hidden fees
