Tag: #clearinghouse

New driver resource on the return-to-duty process

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

ELD, speed limiter, Clearinghouse rules all advancing

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by J.J. Keller 
ELD, speed limiter, Clearinghouse rules all advancing
Photo: DOT

16 rules slated for June publication, DOT agenda shows

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is advancing dozens of new regulations, many of which will have a major impact on motor carriers and their drivers.

The latest DOT rulemaking agenda, released on June 14, 2023, describes numerous pending actions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and other DOT agencies.

The FMCSA is slated to publish a whopping 15 rulemaking proposals in June 2023 alone. Among the rules expected to advance this year are those that would:

  • Require speed limiters for heavy trucks,
  • Update the cargo securement rules,
  • Make a variety of enhancements to the rules for electronic logging devices and the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse,
  • Alter the safety-rating process,
  • Ease rules for stopping at railroad crossings,
  • Require a proficiency exam for new motor carriers,
  • Add an appeals process for drivers accused of refusing a drug or alcohol test, and
  • Add exemption for the transportation of passengers for recreational activities.

Most upcoming rules are in the “proposal” stage, which means motor carriers and the public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the changes before they’re finalized.

The DOT updates its rulemaking roadmap twice yearly. The forecast is not set in stone; proposed changes often encounter delays and take years to finalize.

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Original article published by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

Clearinghouse Annual Queries

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by FMCSA

FMCSA homepage link
Clearinghouse Questions Answered

                                                                       Photo: FMCSA

ANNUAL QUERIES: Are you up-to-date?

Employers of CDL drivers must conduct a query in the Clearinghouse at least once per year for each CDL driver they employ (for more details on employer requirements, see 49 CFR 382.701). A limited query satisfies the annual query requirement. The annual query is tracked on a rolling 12-month basis, which means that if you conducted your last annual queries in December 2020, it is time to conduct your next round of queries.

Log in to the Clearinghouse and visit your Query History page (under My Dashboard > Queries) to see if your annual queries are due. For instructions on conducting annual queries, download the How to Conduct a Limited Query job aid.

What do employers need to do to satisfy the annual query requirement?Employers must obtain a general consent from CDL drivers they employ before conducting limited queries in the Clearinghouse to view these drivers’ information (you can download a sample limited query consent form). Employers may obtain a multi-year general consent from the driver for limited queries; if an employer obtained such a consent in 2020, the employer does not need to obtain the driver’s consent again in 2021.

Employers can  log in to the Clearinghouse and conduct annual queries today.

What if an employer conducted a pre-employment query within the past 12 months?The pre-employment query satisfies the annual query requirement for that driver. Employers are not required to query the driver until one year after that pre-employment query. To learn more about queries and consent requests, download the Queries and Consent Requests Factsheet.

What is a query plan?

Before an employer can conduct queries in the Clearinghouse, the employer must purchase a query plan. Download the  How to Purchase a Query Plan job aid for full instructions.
LOG IN TO THE CLEARINGHOUSE →

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Are You Registered for the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Those subject to the Clearinghouse final rule must now access the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to fulfill the requirements listed in 382.701.

Learn more about how employers, including owner-operators, are required to use the Clearinghouse:

If you have not yet done so, register for the Clearinghouse so you can meet your querying and reporting requirements. (If you have an FMCSA Portal account, ensure you have the correct Portal user role in place. If you are experiencing issues creating or accessing your Portal account, contact 1-800-832-5660.)