The Clearinghouse website is a database managed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that contains information on commercial drivers’ drug and alcohol violations. All trucking companies are required by law to use this website when hiring new drivers or when conducting annual checks on current drivers.
The reason for this requirement is to improve safety on the roads. Drug and alcohol use among commercial drivers can impair their judgment and reaction times, increasing the risk of accidents. By using the Clearinghouse website, trucking companies can ensure that they are not hiring drivers with a history of drug or alcohol violations.
The Clearinghouse website also helps prevent drivers from hiding their violations. In the past, drivers with a history of drug or alcohol violations could simply move to another state or company to avoid detection. The Clearinghouse database makes it more difficult for drivers to hide their violations, as all violations are recorded in a centralized database that is accessible to all trucking companies.
Using the Clearinghouse website is mandatory for trucking companies, and failure to comply can result in fines and other penalties. However, the benefits of using this database go beyond just compliance with the law. By using the Clearinghouse website, trucking companies can help ensure that their drivers are safe and reliable, which ultimately benefits everyone on the road.
