What must now be reported
- Alcohol results at or above 0.04 BAC
- Refusals to test (pre-employment, random, post-accident)
- Actual knowledge violations reported by carriers
- Return-to-duty and follow-up testing outcomes
Mandatory CDL downgrade pathway
When the Clearinghouse records a violation, state driver licensing agencies receive downgrade notifications. Drivers cannot simply switch employers to escape a report—pre-employment queries will surface unresolved statuses.
Carriers that skip documented return-to-duty processes risk negligent entrustment exposure if a prohibited driver operates a CMV.
Hiring workflow updates
Run full queries—not limited queries—for every new hire. Document the query date in the DQ file. Owner-operators leasing onto your authority need the same scrutiny as W-2 drivers. Pair Clearinghouse checks with CDL verification and med cert validation.
Source
This update summarizes information published by FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Government rules, dates, and figures change—always confirm the current details on the official page.
Questions about compliance?
Talk to our Columbus team
We help owner-operators and new LLCs stay compliant. Walk in at Morse Road or call (380) 269-7408.
Asal Business Solutions is a document preparation and compliance filing service. We are not attorneys. This news summary is for informational purposes—confirm current rules on official government sites before acting.