FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse: Queries, Violations and Your CDL
What the federal Clearinghouse holds, when employers must check it, what a prohibited status does to your license, and the return-to-duty steps that clear it.
The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a federal online database of drug and alcohol program violations by CDL and CLP holders, such as positive tests and test refusals. Employers must query it before hiring a driver and at least once a year, and since November 18, 2024, states must downgrade the CDL of any driver whose Clearinghouse status is prohibited.
The rules are in 49 CFR Part 382, subpart G. Everything below reflects those rules as of November 2026.
What goes into the Clearinghouse?
Only violations of the DOT drug and alcohol testing rules are reported, along with the steps a driver takes to resolve them. Negative pre-employment tests and company-policy tests outside the DOT program are not reported.
| Who reports | What they report | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Medical review officer (MRO) | Verified positive drug tests and certain refusals (adulterated, substituted specimens) | Within 2 business days |
| Employer, or its consortium/third-party administrator | Alcohol tests of 0.04 or higher, refusals, negative return-to-duty results, completed follow-up testing | By the close of the third business day for most items |
| Employer | Actual knowledge of drug use or on-duty alcohol use, such as a supervisor’s direct observation | By the close of the third business day |
| Substance abuse professional (SAP) | Date of the initial assessment, then the date the driver became eligible for return-to-duty testing | By the close of the next business day after each |
An owner-operator who employs himself or herself must designate a consortium or third-party administrator (C/TPA) to handle reporting on his or her own violations (49 CFR 382.705(b)(6)).
Which Clearinghouse queries do employers run, and when?
Employers run two kinds of queries, and the driver’s consent rules differ for each.
- Full query. Releases the details of any violation. Required before a driver first performs safety-sensitive work for a new employer. The driver must give specific electronic consent inside the Clearinghouse.
- Limited query. Shows only whether a record exists, not the details. Employers may use it for the annual check of every driver, with a general written consent that can cover more than one year.
If a limited query shows information on file, the employer must run a full query within 24 hours. If it does not, the driver may not perform safety-sensitive functions until the full query comes back clean (49 CFR 382.701). Employers buy query plans from FMCSA to run these checks.
How do drivers register and give consent?
A driver must have a Clearinghouse account to approve a full query, so an unregistered driver cannot be hired by a new carrier. Registration is free.
- Create a Login.gov account with the email you will use for the Clearinghouse.
- Go to the FMCSA Clearinghouse website and register as a driver.
- Enter your CDL or CLP number and issuing state exactly as they appear on the license.
- When a prospective employer requests a full query, log in and approve or decline the consent request.
Your account also shows your own record and which employers have queried it.
What does a violation do to your CDL?
A driver with an unresolved violation has a prohibited status and may not drive a commercial vehicle or do other safety-sensitive work. Since the second phase of the Clearinghouse rule took effect on November 18, 2024, FMCSA notifies the state licensing agency, and the state must downgrade the CLP or CDL within 60 days (49 CFR 383.73(q)).
A downgrade removes the commercial privilege from the license. The driver keeps a regular license. States also check the Clearinghouse before issuing, renewing, transferring or upgrading a CDL, and must refuse while the driver is prohibited. If the driver finishes return-to-duty testing before the downgrade is recorded, the state ends the process. If the downgrade already happened, the state must make the driver eligible for reinstatement where state law permits.
How does the return-to-duty process work?
Return to duty follows DOT’s procedures in 49 CFR Part 40, subpart O, and is managed by a SAP.
- Select a DOT-qualified substance abuse professional and designate that SAP in your Clearinghouse account.
- Complete the SAP’s initial evaluation, which sets the required education or treatment.
- Finish the education or treatment, then complete the SAP’s follow-up evaluation.
- Take a return-to-duty test for drugs, alcohol or both. A negative result is reported to the Clearinghouse, and the prohibited status ends.
- Complete follow-up testing set by the SAP: at least six unannounced tests in the first 12 months back on duty, and possibly more for up to 5 years.
Follow-up testing follows the driver from employer to employer. If you change jobs, the new carrier is responsible for the remaining tests.
How long does a violation stay in the Clearinghouse?
A violation stays visible to employers until two things are both true: 5 years have passed since the violation date, and the driver has completed the SAP process, a negative return-to-duty test and all follow-up testing (49 CFR 382.719). A driver who never completes return to duty keeps the violation on record past 5 years.
How do you dispute your Clearinghouse record?
A petition can fix administrative errors, such as a wrong CDL number, a data entry mistake or a duplicate report. It cannot challenge the accuracy of a test result or a refusal finding; those go through the MRO and Part 40 procedures.
- Log in and file a petition, or mail one to FMCSA, with your name, CDL number and state, a description of the error and supporting evidence.
- Ask for expedited handling if the error is keeping you from driving.
- FMCSA decides within 45 days of a complete petition, or within 14 days if expedited treatment is granted.
- If you disagree with the decision, request an administrative review. FMCSA completes it within 30 days, and that decision is final.
The procedure is in 49 CFR 382.717. A traffic citation for driving under the influence that did not end in a conviction can also be corrected this way.
Bottom line
State notices generally go to the address on your license record, so keep it current with the licensing agency. A prohibited status ends with a negative return-to-duty test, not with the end of follow-up testing, which means a driver can work again while still completing follow-up tests. Before you accept a job offer, check your own record; violations also count in a carrier’s CSA safety data, and other license-loss rules are in our guide to CDL disqualification offenses.
FAQ
Does a failed pre-employment test go into the Clearinghouse?
Yes. A verified positive DOT pre-employment test is a violation and is reported, even if the driver was never hired. A negative result is not reported.
Can I drive for another carrier while I am prohibited?
No. The prohibition applies to every employer, and after the state downgrade the license no longer carries the commercial privilege.
Do I need to register if I never had a violation?
Yes, if you want to change employers. A new employer must run a full query, and that needs your electronic consent, which requires an account.
Who pays for the SAP and follow-up tests?
Federal rules do not say who pays. Some employers cover the cost and some leave it to the driver, so ask before you start.
