• DOT testing histories help employers reduce the likelihood of unknowingly assigning a CDL driver with an unresolved testing violation to safety-sensitive functions.
• Inquiries into a driver’s DOT testing history will alert new employers of remaining follow-up testing.
• Inquiry of the Clearinghouse database is required.

Using a driver who has tested positive for drugs or alcohol and failed to complete the necessary Department of Transportation (DOT) return-to-duty steps consistently appears as one of the top 10 annual acute violations cited in motor carrier investigations.

Through DOT drug and alcohol testing histories, motor carriers may reduce the likelihood of unknowingly assigning a new commercial driver’s license (CDL) driver who needs an evaluation, treatment, and/or follow-up testing to perform safety-sensitive functions.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires an employer to inquire into a driver’s DOT drug and alcohol history. The inquiry applies to:

• New drivers and those transferring into driving positions, and
• The furtherance of any kind of commerce (intrastate and interstate) in the United States.