The agency is set to publish the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register this week — Feb. 14, according to a DOT report from Feb. 10.
The establishment of the clearinghouse is required by the MAP-21 highway funding act. The rule cleared the White House’s Office of Management and Budget Jan. 28, paving the way for publication.
An implementation date for the database has not yet been announced.
“We are leveraging technology to create a one-stop verification point to help companies hire drug and alcohol-free drivers,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “This proposal moves us further down the road toward improving safety for truck and bus companies, commercial drivers and the motoring public everywhere.”
The American Trucking Associations has voiced strong support for the rule, calling it “long overdue.”
In addition to reporting failed drug tests and test refusals and querying for new hires, carriers would be required on an annual basis to query the database for current driver employees. They’d also be required to report traffic citations for drivers cited driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
