Wisconsin Drug Testing Consortium is required to participate
The CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will support the DOT Strategic Goal of Safety when it goes live on January 4, 2020, by ensuring drivers are qualified to operate trucks and buses. The new database, established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), will contain information pertaining to violations of the DOT’s controlled substances drug and alcohol testing program for holders of CDLs.
The goal of the Clearinghouse is to provide FMCSA and employers the information they need to identify drivers who are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on public roads based on DOT drug and alcohol program violations.
This shared database requires employers regulated by FMCSA, Medical Review Officers (MROs), Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs), drug testing consortiums and third party administrators such as Wisconsin Drug Testing Consortium (WDTC), and other service agents to report violations to the Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse will contain only violations that occur on or after the rule’s implementation date of January 4, 2020.
CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will improve national tracking
Information maintained in the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will enable employers to easily identify drivers who have committed a drug or alcohol program violation while working for one employer, but who fail to inform another employer as required by current regulations.
Employers will be required to query the Clearinghouse for violations of the drug and alcohol regulations in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, and parts 40 and 382 by current and prospective employees.
In addition, employers will be required to annually query the Clearinghouse 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.
Employers and drivers are reminded to not unsubscribe from Wisconsin Drug Testing Consortium & DOT emails pertaining to the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Random tests due by the end of the second quarter
Employers are reminded to complete required random drug and alcohol testing and submit updated rosters prior to the end of the second quarter. June 30 falls on a Sunday in 2019, making June 28 the final business day of the second quarter.
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.