Full Query
A Clearinghouse query that returns the complete drug and alcohol violation record for a specific driver. Requires the driver's electronic consent. Required for pre-employment and when a limited query returns a record.
Full queries show the details of any violations, including type, date, and current status (prohibited or returned to duty).
When a full query is required
A full query is required in three situations: before a CDL driver performs any safety-sensitive function for the first time (pre-employment); immediately after an annual limited query returns a 'record exists' result; and when the driver returns to duty after a drug or alcohol violation. Full queries show the complete violation record — type, date, and current RTD status — unlike limited queries, which only indicate whether a record exists.
Driver consent and the full query process
Before running a full query, the employer must obtain the driver's electronic consent through the FMCSA Clearinghouse portal. The driver logs into their own Clearinghouse account and grants consent to the specific employer requesting the query. This consent process cannot be completed on paper alone. If a driver refuses to provide consent for a required pre-employment full query, the employer cannot determine their Clearinghouse status and should not place them in safety-sensitive duties.
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.