Answer

Do all trucking companies use Clearinghouse?

The Clearinghouse is required for all Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) drivers operating Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) on public roads, as well as for their employers and service agents. Examples include but aren’t limited to:

    Interstate and intrastate motor carriers, including passenger carriers

    School bus drivers

    Construction equipment operators

    Limousine drivers

    Municipal vehicle drivers (e.g., waste management vehicles)

    Federal and other organizations that employ drivers subject to FMCSA drug and alcohol testing regulations (e.g., Department of Defense, municipalities, school districts)

Requirements to run an MVR can vary by state and can include a SSN, Driver's license number, employee name, date of birth, etc.

Under FMCSA regulations, an employer must request a pre-hire MVR in all states where a CDL license was held within the previous 3-year period, and then annually as part of the employee’s annual review process.

The FMCSA established the Clearinghouse rule to require mandatory use of the Clearinghouse for employers to report and collect information about a driver’s drug and alcohol history and violations. The Clearinghouse will contain violations per the FMCSA regulations, including any positive drug or alcohol test results and test refusals. The database provides real-time access, helping employers identify drivers who aren’t legally permitted to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), thus further protecting their company by filtering out employees who could pose a dangerous risk.