FMCSA Issues Expanded FAQs on Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued on its website an expanded list of Frequently Asked Questions and other information on the agency’s drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse rule. The new rule goes into effect on January 6, 2020.
The web page allows employers and drivers to subscribe to receive emails from FMCSA with news, updates, and information to help prepare to use the clearinghouse. Employers and drivers will be able to register with the clearinghouse beginning in Fall 2019 to input and access data in the system once it becomes effective.
FMCSA Proposes to Allow Out-of-State CDL Driver’s Tests
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published a notice of proposed rulemaking to allow driver applicants to take the commercial driver’s license general and specialized knowledge tests in a state (the testing state) other than the applicant’s state of domicile. 84 Fed. Reg. 36652 (July 29, 2019).
Under this proposed rule, a state would not be required to offer the knowledge tests to out-of-state applicants. However, if the testing state elects to offer the knowledge tests to these applicants, it would transmit the results to the state of domicile, which would be required to accept the results.
This proposal is intended to ease the problem of scheduling CDL tests in a number of states where there are limited available test dates.
