How often am I required to pull an MVR on my CDL drivers?
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.
Who reports violations to the Clearinghouse?
Employers and Medical Review Officers (MROs) are both required to report drug and alcohol program violations in the Clearinghouse per § 382.705. Employers can hire a consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA) in the Clearinghouse, such as DISA, to assist with meeting these reporting requirements; however, the employer retains ultimate responsibility for compliance. According to the Clearinghouse, employers are responsible for reporting the following:
• An alcohol confirmation test with a concentration of 0.04 or higher
• Refusal to test (alcohol) as specified in 49 CFR § 40.261
• Refusal to test (drug) not requiring a determination by the MRO as specified in 49 CFR § 40.191
• Actual knowledge of a drug or alcohol violation, as defined in 49 CFR § 382.107
MROs are responsible for reporting the following:
• Verified positive, adulterated, or substituted drug test result
• Refusal to test (drug) requiring a determination by the MRO as specified in 49 CFR § 40.191
What constitutes an individual’s need for DOT testing? Does any employee that walks on a pipeline site require a DOT test?
According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) 49 CFR Part 199 defines a covered employee as the following: “Covered employee: A person who performs work on a pipeline or liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility an operation, maintenance, or emergency-response function.” The official DOT document has been attached below for further review. Anything specific or additional requirements beyond this would need to be confirmed by the company operating the pipeline you’re performing work on.
Who is exempt from the FMCSA Clearinghouse?
According to the FMCSA, “Drivers who perform only FTA-regulated safety-sensitive functions are exempt from Part 382, including the Clearinghouse requirements, as are their employers. These drivers and employers are subject only to the alcohol and/or controlled substances testing requirements of Part 655. On the other hand, FTA-regulated entities that employ drivers who also perform FMCSA-regulated safety-sensitive functions must comply with the relevant alcohol and/or controlled substances testing requirements of Part 382.”