The FMCSA Clearinghouse compliance deadline was 1/6/2020, and enforcement is now in effect. It is critical that you register your organization in the Clearinghouse as soon as possible.
If you do not establish an account, you cannot maintain compliance with mandatory Clearinghouse or drug testing regulations. AND you’re risking fines for noncompliance. Need help? Ask us.
PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE ARE SET AT $5833 PER VIOLATION.
What is the FMCSA Clearinghouse?
FMCSA Clearinghouse is a centralized online database containing records of DOT FMCSA drug and alcohol program violations. The searchable, real-time database allows (REQUIRES!) employers to screen and query commercial drivers for any violations of drug and alcohol program.
Th implementation date was January 6th 2020. It’s critically important for all employers to understand this new rule and what that is changing as a result.
Get Support
If you have any questions about the FMCSA Clearinghouse call us at 847-657-7900 or email us at [email protected]
What Is Included?
Fact Sheets & Instructions
- Employer Instructions (PDF)
- CDL Driver Instructions (PDF)
- Queries and Consent Requests (PDF)
- Consortia/Third Party Administrators Instructions (PDF)
- Medical Review Officers Instructions (PDF)
- Substance Abuse Professionals Instructions (PDF)
- Clearinghouse Factsheet (PDF)
- Read the Clearinghouse final rule
FMCSA Clearinghouse Support Prices
Owner Operators: You must employ the services of a C/TPA. As part of your annual consortium dues, we include our Clearinghouse services. However, you still need to register, select InOut Labs as your C/TPA, and purchase queries.
To register as an Owner Operator in our random testing consortium, simply click here.
Importantly, for the purposes of the Clearinghouse, if you are both the owner and the driver, then you are considered an Owner Operator. In contrast, for the InOut Labs consortium, an Owner Operator refers specifically to a one-employee company in which the owner also drives.
Meanwhile, Employers of CDL Drivers must also register with the FMCSA Clearinghouse. You may choose to manage this process independently. Alternatively, you can hire InOut Labs to take care of it for you.
Our fees for Clearinghouse Support include:
-
$149/year for support
-
$10 per Query
-
$10 per Violation or Return-To-Duty (RTD) Report
FMCSA Clearinghouse FAQs
Employer Immediate Action Steps
- Employers with a USDOT# will enroll through the FMCSA portal– NOT – the Clearinghouse
- Assistants must be INVITED to enroll under the account
- Employers designate their C/TPA within the Clearinghouse
- Employers must purchase queries. For each year, you will need enough queries to run the annual query on all drivers as well as enough for each new hire. If you have 50 drivers and replace 10 per year with new hires, you will need at least 60 queries per year.
- Encourage all existing employees to register in the Clearinghouse.
FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries

- Full Queries and Limited Queries are both $1.25 per query.
- Query bundles must be purchased from FMCSA by the Employer and never expire.
- C/TPAs are prohibited from purchasing queries on behalf of Employers.
Driver Consent for FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries

- Drivers are notified when an Employer is conducting a query by the method selected at registration (email or postal mail). If the driver has not registered within the Clearinghouse, notification will be by US Postal mail to the address on CDL. This is one reason it is advisable for all drivers to register.
- Drivers can consent or refuse consent to Queries on their Clearinghouse dashboard. Refusing may make them ineligible to drive.
- Drivers will be able to see historical Queries and which Employer made on them.