FMCSA Clearinghouse Registration for New Carriers
Every motor carrier with a CDL driver must register in the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse before that driver operates. If you skip it, you can't legally run queries, complete pre-employment checks, or pass your New Entrant Safety Audit. We handle the registration and set up your compliant query process. Same day.
What Is the FMCSA Clearinghouse?
The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse is a federal database that tracks drug and alcohol violations for CDL holders. Employers are required to register as a Clearinghouse user and run two types of queries: a full query before hiring any new CDL driver, and an annual limited query for every current driver.
If you're an owner-operator, you're required to register in both roles, as the employer and as the driver, since you act as your own Designated Employer Representative (DER).
What Happens If You Don't Register?
An auditor checking your file at a New Entrant Safety Audit will ask for proof of Clearinghouse registration and query history. No registration means an automatic gap in your compliance file. Beyond the audit risk, operating without a completed pre-employment query is a direct violation. You cannot legally put a driver behind the wheel without it.
Who Needs to Register
- Every motor carrier that employs one or more CDL drivers
- Every owner-operator with their own authority operating a CMV that requires a CDL
- Every Designated Employer Representative (DER) responsible for compliance decisions
- Every CDL driver, who must register to consent to full queries from employers
What We Do
We register your company in the Clearinghouse, set up your DER account, and complete your pre-employment query so you have documented proof on file. If you're enrolling drivers, we walk you through the consent and query process for each one so nothing is missed.
Included in the Done-For-You Compliance Package and available standalone for owner-operators getting set up.
Clearinghouse vs Drug & Alcohol Consortium
These are two separate FMCSA requirements that often get confused. The Clearinghouse is where violations are reported and queried. A consortium is where your actual random drug and alcohol testing is administered. You need both.
If you don't have a consortium set up yet, we can enroll you in a compliant program at the same time.
FAQ
Do owner-operators need to register in the Clearinghouse?
Yes. As an owner-operator, you register as both the employer and the driver since you serve as your own Designated Employer Representative.
How often do I need to run queries?
A full query is required before hiring any new driver. An annual limited query is required for every current driver, including yourself.
Is Clearinghouse registration the same as drug testing?
No. The Clearinghouse is a reporting and query database. You still need a separate DOT-compliant drug and alcohol testing program through a consortium.
How long does Clearinghouse registration take?
We complete the company registration, DER setup, and pre-employment query the same day you order. The driver consent step requires the driver to log in and approve the query, which usually takes minutes.
What if a violation shows up in a query?
A positive test or refusal in the Clearinghouse means the driver is in prohibited status and cannot operate a commercial motor vehicle until they complete the return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional.