The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a secure online database of drug and alcohol program violations by holders of a commercial driver's license (CDL) or commercial learner's permit (CLP). It lets employers and state licensing agencies see whether a driver is prohibited from driving because of an unresolved violation. The rules are in 49 CFR Part 382, subpart G.

Who registers

• Employers of CDL drivers, to run queries and report violations (49 CFR 382.711).
• C/TPAs that employers designate to query or report for them, and that owner-operators must designate.
• MROs and SAPs, to report verified results and return-to-duty progress.
• Drivers, to give consent for full queries, choose a SAP, and view their own records.

Queries employers must run

Query	When	Type and consent
Pre-employment	Before a driver first performs safety-sensitive functions for you	Full query; the driver gives electronic consent in the Clearinghouse
Annual	At least once a year for every driver subject to testing	Limited query with the driver's general consent, which can cover more than one year
Follow-up	Within 24 hours if a limited query shows information exists	Full query; otherwise the driver must not perform safety-sensitive functions

If a query shows a violation without a completed return-to-duty process, the driver must not perform safety-sensitive functions. Keep query records for 3 years; a valid registration meets this requirement (49 CFR 382.701).

Reporting

• MROs report verified positive, adulterated, or substituted drug results and MRO-determined refusals within 2 business days.
• Employers (or their C/TPA) report alcohol results of 0.04 or higher, other refusals, actual-knowledge violations, negative return-to-duty results, and completion of follow-up testing by the close of the third business day.
• SAPs report the initial assessment and when the driver is eligible for return-to-duty testing.

See §382.705 Reporting to the Clearinghouse for the details each report must include.

Return to duty

A driver with a violation stays in "prohibited" status until the SAP reports completion and the employer reports a negative return-to-duty test. The violation remains visible to employers until follow-up testing is complete and at least five years have passed. Since November 18, 2024, state licensing agencies must also remove the CDL or CLP privilege of a driver in prohibited status.

How Med-Stop helps

Med-Stop is not a consortium or C/TPA, including in the Clearinghouse: you cannot designate Med-Stop there, and Med-Stop does not run queries or report violations, return-to-duty results, or follow-up results for your company. Your company queries and reports in its own Clearinghouse account, or through a C/TPA it designates there.

• Test results, refusals, and violations recorded in the Med-Stop employer app give you the dates, results, and documents you need for your own reports.
• The employer app may still show Clearinghouse menus and older employee Clearinghouse history recorded in Med-Stop. They do not query or report for your company.
• Query plans are purchased from FMCSA on the Clearinghouse website.

Your company remains responsible for compliance. For questions about your Med-Stop records, contact Med-Stop Support.

Common questions

• What is the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
• Do employers have to query the Clearinghouse?
• What is the difference between a limited and full query?
• Does the driver need to give consent for a Clearinghouse query?
• Who must register with the Clearinghouse?
• What must an employer report to the Clearinghouse?
• What happens if a driver has a violation in the Clearinghouse?
• How long does a violation stay in the Clearinghouse?
• Can Med-Stop manage my Clearinghouse queries and reports?

Regulations

See 49 CFR Part 382 reference for sections 382.701 through 382.727, starting with §382.701 Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Official site: clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov.