FMCSA Updates Driver Investigation Policy

Fleet owners will no longer have to conduct manual inquiries with previous employers into a driver’s drug and alcohol history.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that starting Jan. 6, 2023, a pre-employment Clearinghouse query “will satisfy the requirement to investigate a prospective driver’s previous drug and alcohol program violations.”

Currently, employers are required to conduct both a Clearinghouse query and contact any employer the driver has worked for in the previous three years. Companies will still be required to conduct at least one annual Clearinghouse query for each driver they employ.