Close to 8,000 positive substance abuse tests and more than 650,000 registrations have been recorded in the first seven weeks of the federal Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
The secure online database, designed to close a gap that has allowed drivers testing positive for substance abuse to get back behind the wheel for a different company, ran into problems at startup on Jan. 6 as a result of registrants overloading the system. The initial snags have since been ironed out.
“We’ve seen encouraging results from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, but there’s still work to do to ensure we identify more drivers who should not be behind the wheel,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen in a statement Friday. “The clearinghouse is a positive step, and the agency continues to work closely with industry, law enforcement, and our state partners to ensure its implementation is effective.”
One hurdle still to be cleared is getting more drivers to register. Jeremy Reymer, founder and CEO of driver recruiter DriverReach, recently told a trucking conference panel that over 90% of drivers applying for jobs have yet to register.
Taking on drug abuse — particularly opioids — has been a priority in the Trump administration, according to FMCSA. “President Trump has brought attention to the nation’s opioid crisis by declaring it a nationwide public health emergency and has implemented critical federal initiatives to help reduce opioid abuse.”
As a reminder, the agency emphasized that those required to register for the clearinghouse include:
- Employers of commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders, or their designated service agents, and medical review officers who report drug and alcohol program violations that occurred on or after January 6, 2020;
- Employers or their designated service agents who conduct required queries which inform them whether prospective or current employees have drug and alcohol program violations in their clearinghouse records (employers must purchase a query plan before conducting queries in the clearinghouse – query plans must be purchased from the FMCSA clearinghouse website only);
- Drivers who respond to employer consent requests or would like to view their clearinghouse record when applying for a job;
- Substance abuse professionals who report on the completion of driver initial assessments and driver eligibility for return-to-duty testing for violations committed on or after January 6, 2020.
The FMCSA’s clearinghouse website provides registration details and other resources.
David
Let start this for politicians and police.
Bob
Hey, that’s great and all… but there was a time when a trucker could take PRESCIBED MEDICATION for an actual MEDICAL ISSUE and NOT be labeled an addict and fired. Now with the FMCSA and blanket “prohibition”, GOOD LUCK!!! See what happens when we let politicians and bureaucrats play doctor? Bad drivers skirt the law and slip through the cracks, while law abiding drivers are forced out.
Guess how I know.
shawn willis
Agreed
Barbara
I agree with thetestings but as said above….. Give the driver a chance to get clean. Give them the ultimatum to go to recovery, get testing frequently, get help, stand with them. This job is stressful and sometimes bad things go wrong for good people… I myself am a driver for over 20 plus years and have watched society and people change for the worst. I think general people have forgot our purpose of our job. Do people really understand where and how things get to stores and shops? They need a reality check especially the way they cut us off and not let us change lanes n get on highway n such. I could go on n on but I will leave it at…..WAKE UP PEOPLE…..
A Driver
Big paycheck and a drug addiction, what can go wrong?
These people need help and stripping them for their career is not help. Give them a pardon grace time to straighten their situation or loose their license, that is help. Just taking their license away is in a way help for the safety, but not really, those same drivers will be driving cars without a license and still cause accidents. Best it to give them a way out once caught, in a strict manner of drug testing them every week after attending a recovery program. That will help the public safety much much better.
Bill
What a great idea.
Poof, and it so.
Read regulations.
shawn willis
This should not be for cdl drivers only it should pertain to all Drivers. Who is pain pills its getting so ridiculous on how it is being putting on just cdl drivers. I live in pain every day now that I cant use them even off duty. Yes I’m getting threw it luckily I’m a owner operator and can take time off when needed. Also the diabetic issue should be for everyone stop picking on the ones who keep America moving