The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is the federal database that records CDL drivers' drug and alcohol program violations, such as a verified positive test, an alcohol result of 0.04 or higher, or a test refusal. Every carrier must run a full query on you before you drive for them and at least a limited query every year after that. You don't have to register, but you can't approve a pre-employment query without an account, and you can view your own record for free once you're in. If your record shows "prohibited," you can't drive a CMV, and since November 18, 2024 your state must also remove the CDL from your license until you finish the return-to-duty process (as of October 2026).
If you're a working CDL-A driver thinking about switching trucking companies, the Clearinghouse is one of the first things a new carrier will check. Here's what's in it, how to check your own record, and how to keep it from slowing down a job change.
What is the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
It's a secure online database run by FMCSA that gives employers, FMCSA, state licensing agencies and law enforcement real-time information about drug and alcohol program violations by CDL and CLP holders. According to the official Clearinghouse FAQ, it holds violations of the rules in 49 CFR Part 382, Subpart B, including positive drug tests and test refusals. When a driver completes the return-to-duty (RTD) process and follow-up testing, that is recorded too.
Under 49 CFR 382.701, the violations that keep you out of a truck are:
- A verified positive, adulterated or substituted drug test
- An alcohol confirmation test of 0.04 or higher
- Refusing a required test
- An employer's report of "actual knowledge" that you used alcohol on duty, before duty or after an accident, or used a controlled substance
The Clearinghouse links records across states, so getting a CDL in a new state doesn't leave a violation behind.
Do CDL-A drivers have to register for the Clearinghouse?
Not by law. In practice, yes. FMCSA says drivers aren't required to register, but you must be registered to give electronic consent for a full query, and every pre-employment query is a full query. If you aren't registered when a new carrier asks, your hire waits until you are.
Registration is free at clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/register. You sign in through Login.gov, which has its own identity check, then link your CDL number and issuing state. Doing it before you start applying for CDL-A jobs saves a day or two of back-and-forth.
How do I check my own Clearinghouse record?
Once you're registered, log in and open your dashboard. FMCSA states that drivers can view their own record electronically at no cost. It shows any violation on file and the status of your RTD process, if you have one. You can only see your own record, not anyone else's.
A good habit: check your record before a job search, and again if a carrier's onboarding stalls on "Clearinghouse." Before you approve a full query, the Clearinghouse also shows you exactly what would be released to that employer.
What is the difference between a full query and a limited query?
This is where most confusion comes from. Per FMCSA's query FAQ:
- Limited query: tells the carrier only whether your record has any information, without details. You give general consent on paper outside the Clearinghouse, and that consent can cover more than one year. Carriers use it for the required annual check.
- Full query: shows the carrier the details of any resolved or unresolved violations. You must approve each one electronically inside the Clearinghouse. All pre-employment queries are full queries.
If a limited query shows that something is on your record, the carrier must run a full query within 24 hours. If that doesn't happen, the carrier can't let you keep doing safety-sensitive work, which includes driving, until the full query comes back with no prohibition (382.701(b)(3)). If you refuse consent for a follow-up full query, the carrier must pull you off driving until it's done.
Who pays for the query?
The carrier. Employers buy query plans at a flat $1.25 per limited or full query (as of October 2026). Registration and viewing your own record cost drivers nothing.
Worked example: a carrier switch with a Clearinghouse check
Hypothetical example. Mike, a CDL-A reefer driver, accepts an offer on Monday. The new carrier's safety department runs a pre-employment full query that afternoon and Mike gets a consent request by email.
- Scenario A (registered): Mike logs in Monday night, reviews what will be released and approves it. The carrier gets a "not prohibited" result in minutes, and the Clearinghouse step is done for orientation on Wednesday.
- Scenario B (not registered): Mike has to create a Login.gov account, verify his identity and register before he can approve. If that drags into Wednesday, the carrier can't put him in a truck, and orientation may slide to the next class.
The record is the same in both cases. The only difference is about 20 minutes of setup done ahead of time.
How long does a violation stay in the Clearinghouse?
FMCSA says a violation stays available to employers for five years from the date of the violation determination, or until you complete the RTD process and follow-up testing plan, whichever is later. Finishing RTD early doesn't erase the record before five years. Not finishing follow-up testing keeps it there past five years.
What happens to my CDL if I'm "prohibited"?
Under the Clearinghouse II rule, starting November 18, 2024, state driver licensing agencies must remove commercial privileges from the license of anyone with a "prohibited" status. That's a downgrade of your CDL, not just a hold at one carrier. To get it back, you complete the return-to-duty process under 49 CFR Part 40, Subpart O (substance abuse professional evaluation, education or treatment, and a negative RTD test). Once your status changes to "not prohibited," your state lets you reinstate the CDL privileges.
For a related enforcement change, see our post on the drug out-of-service loophole FMCSA moved to close.
Can I fix an error on my Clearinghouse record?
Only administrative errors. Under 49 CFR 382.717, you can petition FMCSA to fix things like a data-entry mistake or a duplicate report of the same positive test. You can't use the petition to challenge whether a test result or refusal was valid.
There are narrow exceptions. You can ask FMCSA to add proof of non-conviction to an employer's "actual knowledge" report about a DUI citation in a CMV that didn't end in a conviction, and you can ask to remove certain employer reports that didn't meet the reporting requirements. Your petition needs your name, address, phone, CDL number and state, a description of the error and supporting evidence. FMCSA must decide within 45 days, or within 14 days if it grants expedited review because the error is keeping you from driving. You can then ask for an administrative review, decided within 30 days.
This is general information. Ask a qualified professional about your situation.
Common mistakes CDL-A drivers make with the Clearinghouse
- Waiting to register until a carrier asks. Login.gov identity checks can take time, and your hire waits on you.
- Letting a consent request sit. Requests go to your email or the Clearinghouse dashboard. Check spam and respond the same day.
- Confusing the limited consent form with full consent. Signing the paper limited-query form at orientation doesn't approve a full query. That still happens online.
- Using an old email or CDL number. If you moved states or changed email, update your Clearinghouse profile so requests reach you.
- Assuming RTD wipes the record. It changes your status to "not prohibited," but the violation can still show for the five-year period.
- Ignoring your DOT medical card at the same time. Carriers check both. Our DOT medical card renewal guide covers the other half.
How the Clearinghouse fits into a job change
A clean, registered Clearinghouse account is one less thing to slow down an offer. Pair it with the rest of your paperwork, then use the driver job match or browse open CDL-A jobs. Good questions to ask any new carrier are in our list of questions to ask a recruiter before you leave. More free tools are on the driver hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Clearinghouse free for drivers?
Yes. Registering and viewing your own record cost nothing. Carriers pay $1.25 per query (as of October 2026).
Can a carrier check my Clearinghouse record without my permission?
No. Every query needs your consent: general written consent for limited queries and electronic consent in the Clearinghouse for each full query.
How long does a positive test stay on my record?
Five years from the violation determination or until you finish RTD and follow-up testing, whichever is later.
Will a Clearinghouse violation take my CDL?
If your status is "prohibited," yes. Since November 18, 2024, states must downgrade the CDL until you complete return-to-duty.
Can I dispute a positive drug test through the Clearinghouse?
No. The Clearinghouse petition only fixes administrative errors and a few specific employer-report issues, not the validity of a test result.
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