Consortium Versus Clearinghouse:

DOT auditors tell us that one of the most common violations they see now is CDL drivers not participating in a drug and alcohol testing program (or an owner-operator working with a consortium), or companies not registering or using stored DOT drugs and alcohol The CDL Clearinghouse for Violations.

This became apparent when new carriers conducted new entrant audits within the first 6-12 months of operations, and auditors found these errors.

The purpose of this article is to help drivers and carriers understand the difference between the Drug and Alcohol Alliance and the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, understand their requirements, and find out what, if any, you need to use.



What is the DOT Consortium?

Let's start with the basics.

The DOT Alliance is a must-have DOT drug and alcohol testing program for any employee operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) that requires a CDL in intrastate or interstate commerce.

"Qualified employees" include:

Drive a single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 26,001 lbs. or more

Drive vehicles such as trucks (including pickups) or trailers (10,001 lbs or more) and two units with a gross weight of 26,001 lbs. or more

Drive a bus or limousine that seats 16 or more passengers, including the driver

Drive a vehicle that transports hazardous waste of any size, weight or quantity, which requires a Hazardous Materials sign

The DOT drug and alcohol testing program must conduct the following tests on "qualified employees":

Before Employment

After The Accident

Random

Reasonable Doubt

Return to Work

Follow Up

Given the complexity of the DOT's drug and alcohol testing requirements, most companies hire a Consortium/ThirdParty Administrator (C-TPA) to help manage their drug testing programs. Additionally, owner-operators must register with the consortium if they meet the above requirements and participate in the consortium's random testing pool.

Companies should look for consortia, such as CNS, that meet the DOT's mandatory requirements for the following capabilities:

Random Selection

Consult

Company Drug and Alcohol Policy Support

24/7 Emergency Support

Tested in an Accredited Laboratory

Collection Point Management

Maintenance Service

Clearinghouse Reports for Mro/Collection Sites

Record Keeping and Reporting Assistance

What is the CDL Clearinghouse?

On January 6, 2020, FMCSA launched the CDL Clearinghouse, an online database that will store and search CDL driver drug and alcohol testing violations and return-to-work information.

The purpose of the CDL Clearinghouse is to prevent CDL drivers from jumping jobs due to positive drug and alcohol test results, refusal to test, or providing information about the driver's return-to-work process.

Information in the clearing-house database will include:

Positive drug and alcohol test results

refuse the test, and/or

CDL driver return process information

Who does it apply to?

DOT Consortium

Any owner-operator needs a DOT federation:

Drive a single vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 26,001 lbs. or more

Drive vehicles such as trucks (including pickups) or trailers and two units with a gross weight of 26,001 lbs. or more

Drive a bus or limousine that seats 16 or more passengers, including the driver

Drive a vehicle that transports hazardous waste of any size, weight or quantity, which requires a Hazardous Materials sign

Although not required, most companies with "qualified employees" hire a consortium to help manage their drug and alcohol testing programs.

clearinghouse

The FMCSA Clearinghouse database will include drug and alcohol testing violations by CDL drivers who operate CMVs over 26,000 pounds combined, have more than 15 seat belts, or are hauling anything that requires a DOT HAZMAT placard.

To use the database, employers and some drivers need to register with the clearinghouse.

This includes:

Employers of CDL Drivers

Owner Operator

Drivers who are looking for a new job (pre-employment testing process), hold a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or a Commercial Learning Permit (CLP)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is a urinalysis?

Image
  Urinalysis: A urinalysis is a series of tests on your urine or pee. Doctors use it to check for signs of common conditions or diseases. Its other names are urine test , urinalysis and UA. Why performs a urinalysis? You may have a urinalysis as part of a routine check-up of your overall health, such as during your annual physical. A urinalysis is one way to detect certain diseases at an early stage. They include: ·          Kidney Disease ·          Liver Disease ·          Diabetes If you are preparing for surgery or are about to be admitted to the hospital, your doctor may want to test your urine. A urinalysis can also be part of a pregnancy test. If you have symptoms of kidney or urinary tract problems, you may need tests to help find the problem. You can also have this test regularly if you have a medical condition, such as kidney disease, that requires long-term observation. How does a urinalysis work? There are three ways to analyze urine, and your test may
Read more

5 Steps to Return to Duty Following a Dot Testing Violation

Image
  Return to Duty Process: 1. Immediate response to DOT violations When a driver engages in illegal drug or alcohol behavior, they must be immediately removed from performing all safety-sensitive functions. If in dispatch, the driver must be informed of the test results and instructed to stop. The notification usually involves arranging for the driver to go home and continue running with a different driver. Employers must provide drivers with a list of Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) who have the appropriate certification and DOT training to perform driver assessments. The list must be provided free of charge and provided to the driver (or driver applicant) regardless of whether the carrier retains the driver. 2. Education and/or Therapy Referrals by SAP for education and/or treatment programs are based on the driver's clinical assessment during the face-to-face meeting. SAP should be aware of available programs and consultants. SAP may take into account the driver
Read more

TPA service & Why work with TPA?

Image
 Why work with TPA? Managing drug and alcohol testing programs is complex, and the risks of preventing workplace drug abuse while complying with federal regulations are high. Partnering with an experienced Third-Party Administrator (TPA) like goMDnow is an effective and cost-effective way to help manage your program. A TPA acts as an extension of an employer's human resources or security department to help ensure employee safety and compliance. The employer is the "first party" and the TPA is the "third party" that helps manage the "second party" participating in the testing program: TPA can manage the entire process from start to finish, or manage specific parts of the process, such as random drug screening selection. At goMDnow , our capabilities include: ·           Full Employee Drug and Alcohol Testing ·          Random selection and alliance management ·          National Network of DOT Certification Collection Points ·          MRO
Read more