The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) secure, online database where (1) the FMCSA, employers, state driver licensing agencies, and law enforcement personnel can access real-time information about CDL driver drug and alcohol program violations; and (2) employers report information about CDL driver compliance with alcohol and drug testing regulations. There are two types of Clearinghouse queries:

• Full Query: This pre-employment (or pre-assignment for a new CDL position) review allows employers who employ drivers subject to the FMCSA’s licensing and drug and alcohol requirements to query the Clearinghouse for current and prospective employees' drug and alcohol violations before permitting those employees to operate a commercial motor vehicle on public roads. Employers can also report information to the Clearinghouse. A full query allows the employer to see detailed information about any drug and alcohol program violations in a driver’s Clearinghouse record. An employer must obtain the driver’s electronic consent in the Clearinghouse prior to the release of detailed violation information during the full query.

• Limited Query: A limited query allows an employer to determine if an individual driver’s Clearinghouse record has any information regarding resolved or unresolved drug and alcohol program violations (a violation is unresolved if the driver has not completed the return-to-duty process) but does not release any specific violation information contained in the driver’s Clearinghouse record. Limited queries require only a general driver's consent, which is obtained outside the Clearinghouse. This general consent is not required on an annual basis and may be effective for more than one year. However, the limited consent request must specify the timeframe the driver is providing consent for.