Updated DOT guidelines for drug testing clearinghouse

GREEN BAY, Wis. - July 16, 2019 - PRLog -- Owner-operators must designate a Consortium/TPA, like WDTC, for reporting

Drivers, employers and agencies each have specific responsibilities for the upcoming CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, the new national database that will go live on January 4, 2020. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) continues to update its resources pertaining to DOT guidelines for the drug testing Clearinghouse.

Owner-operators, defined as anyone who employs themselves as a driver, are subject to the requirements pertaining to employers as well as those pertaining to drivers. DOT guidelines for drug testing Clearinghouse state that owner-operators must designate a Consortium/Third Party Administrator (TPA) to comply with the employer portion of Clearinghouse reporting requirements related to their own alcohol and controlled substance use. Wisconsin Drug Testing Consortium (WDTC) is an accredited, Certified Third Party Administrator (C-TPA) that can fulfill this requirement for owner-operators.

Employers with drivers other than themselves will be required to query the Clearinghouse database every year for each driver they employ. State driver licensing agencies also will be required to query the Clearinghouse whenever a CDL is issued, renewed, transferred or upgraded.

Who will be authorized to access the Clearinghouse?

Users will need to request access from FMCSA by registering for the Clearinghouse. Authorized users will include:

• Drivers who hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) or a commercial learner's permit (CLP)
• Employers, including motor carriers and other employers with drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) that require a CDL or CLP
• Consortium/Third-Party Administrators
• Medical Review Officers (MROs)
• Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs)
• State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs)
• Federal Enforcement personnel

The Clearinghouse will provide FMCSA and employers the information they need to identify drivers who are prohibited from operating a CMV on public roads based on DOT drug and alcohol program violations. The Clearinghouse will contain only violations that occur on or after the rule's implementation date of January 4, 2020.

Employers and drivers are reminded to not unsubscribe from emails pertaining to CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, or DOT guidelines for drug testing clearinghouse.

About Wisconsin Drug Testing Consortium

Wisconsin Drug Testing Consortium is an accredited, Certified Third Party Administrator (C-TPA), and specializes in consortium management; a variety of drug testing methods, including urine, hair and fingernails; post-accident testing; pre-employment drug tests; criminal background checks; supervisor training programs to keep employees compliant with DOT regulations; pre-employment DOT physicals; and paternity DNA testing. Headquartered in Green Bay, WDTC also has offices in Appleton, Fond du Lac and Madison, Wisconsin. Call 888-784-8842 or visit www.widrugtesting.com for more information.

View original article on CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse here.