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Understanding the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Last reviewed: July 2026 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a secure database of covered CDL and CLP drug and alcohol program violations. Employers use it to determine whether a driver may perform safety-sensitive work. A...
DOT Record-Keeping Requirements for Motor Carriers
Last reviewed: July 2026 DOT record-keeping requirements do not use one universal retention period. Motor carriers must keep driver qualification, drug and alcohol, hours-of-service, maintenance, inspection, Clearinghouse, and accident records for periods ranging from...
What Happens If a CDL Driver Refuses a Random DOT Drug or Alcohol Test?
Last reviewed: July 2026 A CDL driver who refuses a required random DOT drug or alcohol test must be removed immediately from safety-sensitive work. The refusal is reported to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, creates a...
DOT Physical Guidelines Medical Examiners Must Follow
Last reviewed: July 2026 Certified Medical Examiners must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, complete the required medical history, testing, physical examination, and documentation, make an independent qualification decision, issue a certificate only...
Watch Out For DOT Medical Examiner Fraud
Last reviewed: July 2026 DOT medical examiner fraud can involve forged certificates, deliberately falsified examination results, bribery, or selling medical cards without performing a valid examination. Commercial drivers can reduce their risk by checking the examiner...
What reasons do commercial drivers fail the DOT physical?
A driver can fail a DOT physical when a Certified Medical Examiner finds that a medical condition, functional limitation, medication, or substance use prevents the driver from meeting Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration physical qualification standards. Common...
DOT vs. Non-DOT Drug Tests: What’s the Difference?
DOT and non-DOT drug tests may sound similar. However, they serve different purposes and follow different rules. A DOT drug test follows U.S. Department of Transportation requirements for safety-sensitive transportation workers. By contrast, a non-DOT drug test...
Recent Posts
Understanding the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Last reviewed: July 2026 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a secure database of covered CDL and CLP drug and alcohol program violations. Employers use it to determine whether a driver may perform safety-sensitive work. A...
DOT Record-Keeping Requirements for Motor Carriers
Last reviewed: July 2026 DOT record-keeping requirements do not use one universal retention period. Motor carriers must keep driver qualification, drug and alcohol, hours-of-service, maintenance, inspection, Clearinghouse, and accident records for periods ranging from...
What Happens If a CDL Driver Refuses a Random DOT Drug or Alcohol Test?
Last reviewed: July 2026 A CDL driver who refuses a required random DOT drug or alcohol test must be removed immediately from safety-sensitive work. The refusal is reported to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, creates a...
DOT Physical Guidelines Medical Examiners Must Follow
Last reviewed: July 2026 Certified Medical Examiners must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, complete the required medical history, testing, physical examination, and documentation, make an independent qualification decision, issue a certificate only...
Watch Out For DOT Medical Examiner Fraud
Last reviewed: July 2026 DOT medical examiner fraud can involve forged certificates, deliberately falsified examination results, bribery, or selling medical cards without performing a valid examination. Commercial drivers can reduce their risk by checking the examiner...