Renewal of FMCSA’s Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Information Collection

What Changed with the ICR Renewal

FMCSA has renewed the Information Collection Request for the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The renewal supports continued querying and reporting to address drivers who test positive for controlled substances or alcohol misuse and then continue to drive without completing the required return‑to‑duty process. The request will remain in effect until August 31, 2026.

Who Is Affected

Respondents include motor carriers (employers), drivers, motor vehicle repair facilities (MROs), safety assessment programs (SAPs), consortia or third‑party administrators (C/TPAs), and state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs). FMCSA estimates about 9.8 million respondents will be required to submit data.

What Carriers Should Do

Employers must query the Clearinghouse for each current driver at least once a year and for prospective hires as needed. They must report alcohol confirmation tests with a concentration of 0.04 or higher, refusals to test for alcohol or drug (unless determined by an MRO), and any known violations or negative return‑to‑duty tests. Reporting must be completed by the close of the third business day after the information is obtained. MROs must enter verified positive, adulterated, or substituted drug test results and refusals to drug tests no later than two business days after determination. SAPs must record the initial assessment date and the date the driver complied with return‑to‑duty requirements.

What Remains Unclear

The notice does not detail the exact procedures for third‑party administrators or state agencies, nor does it clarify how the estimated 10 to 20 minutes per response will be measured across the diverse respondent types. Carriers should verify the specific deadlines and reporting formats that apply to their operations.