Answer

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

If drivers are required to have a Class B CDL in order to operate vehicles, then the FMCSA Regulations in Part 382 and Part 383 will apply to your operations. Other areas of the regulations, such as Part 391 or Part 395, may apply to the motor carrier even if they don’t leave the state. Those sections apply to motor carriers operating in interstate commerce, which cannot be determined based solely on never leaving a given state. Interstate commerce is an activity that might occur without a truck ever leaving a single city. We advise that you contact the FMCSA for assistance in determining the applicability of the regulations.

As of last year, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture no longer distributes stickers or window hangs, instead a paper permit must be kept in the vehicle at all times.

Employers are advised to have a clear and concise written drug testing policy and to abide by state laws to avoid litigation. Employers may still test for and/or discipline an employee for marijuana under certain circumstances (e.g., post-accident). Oklahoma medical marijuana SQ 788 does not permit an employer to discipline or terminate a cardholding medical marijuana employee based solely on the presence of marijuana in a drug test. Regardless of a cardholder status, employers are not permitted to bring marijuana to their place of work or be under the influence during their hours of work. If an employee's job is covered by federal guidelines, then they must abide by the federal regulations in order for the company to remain in compliance with federal guidelines, regardless of state laws. Medical marijuana is not a medical exception under the U.S. DOT drug testing regulations, and federally mandated employers are expected to follow federal guidelines.