Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse
The FMCSA's secure online database of CDL driver drug and alcohol violations, including positive test results, refusals to test, and return-to-duty status.
Employers must conduct a full pre-employment query before hiring a CDL driver and an annual limited query for all current drivers. The Clearinghouse has been operational since January 6, 2020.
What the Clearinghouse records
The Clearinghouse stores records of DOT drug and alcohol violations: positive drug or alcohol test results, refusals to test, actual knowledge violations (employer observes impairment), and return-to-duty completion status. It also records SAP evaluation referrals and follow-up testing completion. Violations remain visible until the return-to-duty process is completed.
Employer query requirements
Employers must run a full query (requires driver consent) before a CDL driver begins safety-sensitive duties. An annual limited query (no driver consent required) must be run for all CDL drivers each calendar year. If the annual limited query returns a result, the employer must immediately run a full query. Employers must register and keep their Clearinghouse account active.
Owner-operator obligations
Owner-operators must register in the Clearinghouse and designate a C/TPA to report violations and conduct annual queries on their behalf. An owner-operator cannot query their own record without a designated employer — the C/TPA serves that function.
Last updated: June 4, 2026
When this definition matters
This term usually matters when a driver, owner-operator, or small carrier is deciding whether a federal rule applies, preparing a compliance file, or checking a state CDL step. Use this definition as a starting point, then confirm the controlling requirement in the official source listed below before making a licensing, hiring, dispatch, or recordkeeping decision.
The related terms above are included because they often appear in the same compliance workflow. Reviewing them together can prevent common mix-ups, such as treating a state licensing step as a federal carrier obligation or confusing a driver record with a separate employer record.