One year into operation of the Clearinghouse, we saw reported in 2020:
- 56,150 violations; positive drug tests account for 82% of the total violations reported
- 29,511 marijuana positives
- 7,940 cocaine positives
- 5,187 methamphetamine positives
- 4,953 amphetamine positives
- Other drug positives, including ecstasy, opioids, and phencyclidine (PCP).
Judging from these findings (the marijuana positives excepted), it looks as if many drivers are trying to stay awake with cocaine, methamphetamines, and amphetamines. Over 18,000 positives were reported for these three drugs, which are stimulants. Some of the drivers in question have started a return-to-duty (RTD) process, but most have not. In 2020, only 7,031 drivers completed the RTD process with a substance abuse professional (SAP) and were determined eligible for their RTD testing.
These statistics, shared by the FMCSA Clearinghouse, tell us that over 34,000 drivers with violations elected not to continue driving in FMCSA-covered positions. It is to be hoped that these drivers using illicit drugs are not currently driving on our public roads. They remain in FMCSA prohibited status.
Besides what is listed above, other violations reported to the Clearinghouse included:
- 1,330 instances of knowledge of a drug violation
- 7,803 drug-test refusals
- 177 instances of knowledge of an alcohol violation
- 287 alcohol-test refusals
- 739 positive alcohol tests.
So, after one year, we see that the system is working. Many drivers are now in a prohibited status. Keeping these drug-abusing drivers off the roads can save lives. The large number of truck drivers not returning to work might be a concern to trucking companies that continue to struggle with filling truck‑driving positions. The preferred outcome would have been for many more drivers to go through the rehabilitation process and return to work.
What About Queries?
It seems as though the 182,124 employers registered in the Clearinghouse are taking their responsibility to run queries seriously. Queries are required for pre-employment, and an annual query is required for each driver employed. Over 4 million queries were conducted in 2020; about 1.5 million of these were pre-employment queries. Each query checks the FMCSA database to make sure the driver is not in a prohibited status due to a drug or alcohol violation with no completion of the return-to-duty process. A driver who has a prohibited status is not allowed to operate in an FMCSA-covered driving position.
The Drug Testing Industry
- 9,869 consortium/third-party administrators (C/TPA)
- 2,874 substance abuse professionals (SAP)
- 1,631 medical review officers (MRO).
C/TPAs can assist employers with their Clearinghouse responsibilities, which include:
- Queries of new drivers
- Annual queries of all existing drivers
- Reporting alcohol test positives, employer-determined refusals to test, and actual knowledge, as defined in Part § 382.107
- Reporting negative RTD tests and completion of follow-up testing programs.
SAPs are required to report:
- The date the driver’s initial assessment is completed, by the close of the business day following the assessment
- The date of determination that the driver is eligible for RTD testing, by the close of the business day following the determination.
MROs are required to report:
- Verified positive, adulterated, or substituted controlled substances test results
- MRO refusal-to-test determinations for controlled substances tests.
Moving Forward with the Clearinghouse
More and more FMCSA-regulated companies will be registering in the Clearinghouse and participating in the required tasks. You can learn more and get professional expert assistance from ClearinghouseServices.com, a private company not affiliated with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
It is our goal to assist employers, CDL drivers, and service agents with their responsibilities mandated by the FMCSA Clearinghouse rule, also known as the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse – 49 CFR Part 382, Subpart G.
