On January 6th, 2020, Drug and Alcohol (D&A) Clearinghouse rules were put in place requiring all fleets to run a “limited query” on all of their drivers at least once on a rolling 12-month basis. That first 12-month period comes to a close on January 5th, 2021, and all fleets who haven’t submitted their D&A Clearinghouse queries may face a fine of up to $2,500 per unsubmitted driver.
With the deadline fast approaching and the fine for non-participation so high, it’s important fleets submit their queries as soon as possible. In this week’s blog, we’ve compiled some information to help you submit your query in a timely and efficient manner.
Q&A: D&A Clearinghouse Queries
Where do I go to submit my D&A Clearinghouse queries?
Fleets can submit their queries through the FMCSA’s website, on their D&A Clearinghouse home page here.
Do I need the consent of my driver to run a query?
Yes, fleets must obtain written consent from their drivers prior to conducting D&A Clearinghouse queries. However, consent can be obtained for use on an ongoing basis, so a fleet can ask a driver for their consent “for the duration of their employment,” and only have to ask once.
What happens if my driver returns a hit on their query?
Fleets must run a full query on any driver that comes back with hits during the required annual limited query run. If a full query is run and the driver has information that prohibits them from operating a commercial motor vehicle, the driver then is disqualified from driving until he or she completes the proper return-to-duty process.
What happens if a driver doesn’t give my fleet consent to run a query?
If a driver does not consent to the query—either on purpose or by missing the email asking for that consent—then the driver is not eligible to drive.
Can I run a large batch of queries all at once?
Yes, drivers’ information can be run one at a time or in batches throughout the year—or all at once every year, should a fleet so choose.
What’s the point of these D&A Clearinghouse rules?
The required limited-query check is meant to ensure that drivers haven’t failed a drug or alcohol test, such as a pre-employment screen when applying for a job at another fleet, for example, and failed, only to remain behind the wheel and employed at another fleet.
How to Manage Your Clearinghouse Data Faster for Next Year
For fleets with more than a few drivers, collecting, storing, and managing D&A Clearinghouse data can be a burdensome process. Fortunately for those fleets, there’s a tool that makes it simple.
Safety Suite® is the trucking industry’s leading driver management platform, enabling fleets to consolidate all of their driver data into a single location.
With Safety Suite, fleets can seamlessly collect and manage all of their D&A Clearinghouse information and tie that data to each driver’s individual profile, alongside all their safety, HR, compliance, and other data. With a single location for all of your data, managing drivers and going above and beyond compliance is a simple process.
If you’d like to learn more about going above and beyond compliance with the industry’s leading driver management platform, watch a 2-minute demo or sign up for a deep dive here.
Information in this blog is credited to the reporting of the Commercial Carrier Journal.