On February 20th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a proposed rule that would establish a database of drivers who have failed or refused to take a drug or alcohol test.
Officially announced earlier in February, the new resource is called The Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse or CDLDAC. The current MAP-21 highway funding act dictated FMCSA create the rule, and the proposal cleared the White House’s Office of Management and Budget Jan. 28.
The rule requires carriers to report to FMCSA all failed drug tests and test refusals. It also requires that carriers check the clearinghouse before making new hires and once annually for current drivers. In addition, the new rule would require carriers to report driver traffic citation information when drivers are cited for driving under the influence. The database would also record successful completion of a substance abuse program by a driver who is then legally qualified to return to duty.
The agency is accepting public comment on the rule until April 21.
The release about the new rule can be found here.
Public comments can be made via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at regulations.gov; via fax, 202-493-2251; by mail, Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, D.C., 20590; or hand-delivered to the same address. All public comments must use the docket number FMCSA-2010-0031.
