FMCSA Sends Drug/Alcohol Clearinghouse Final Rule to OMB

May 23, 2016 5:20 PM, EDT

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on May 20 forwarded to the White House Office of Management and Budget its final rule that would establish a national database of truck drivers who have failed or refused to take drug and alcohol tests, marking the final step in the approval process.

The proposed drug and alcohol clearinghouse rule, published in February 2014, would require motor carriers and other medical personnel to “report verified positive, adulterated and substituted drug test results, positive alcohol test results, test refusals, negative return-to-duty test results and information on follow-up testing.”

The proposed rule also called for employers to search the clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol test results, and refusals to test, on an annual basis for current employees and as part of the pre-employment process for prospective employees.

Currently, employers must rely on information provided by the driver, “who might not disclose prior positive drug or alcohol test results, or refusals to test,” FMCSA said.