JANUARY 23, 2019 – It’s been about two weeks since the DOT Clearinghouse went into effect and enforcement has already begun. Foley has heard from motor carriers that auditors are starting to ask about the Clearinghouse to ensure the new processes are being followed. Therefore, if you’re a safety-sensitive carrier and haven’t yet registered, it’s important that you do so now. Even if you haven’t needed to log in to the website yet, having your account set up and ready to use will help prevent delays when hiring new drivers. It will also ensure all positive drug and alcohol testing results can be reported in a timely manner.
Most motor carriers should find the registration process pretty straightforward, though we’ve tried to simplify the process for you by providing helpful guides to walk you through the process. The video below demonstrates the process of both registering as a motor carrier and designating a Third Party Administrator to manage your Clearinghouse requirements on your behalf. The second step is very important, as your TPA won’t be able to access your Clearinghouse account until you’ve given them the proper permissions.
Once you have your account, you’ll need to establish processes to ensure you’re meeting all of your new compliance requirements. If you’d like an overview of these requirements to help you better plan, we have some educational materials in our Clearinghouse Resources center that can help. You can access these free materials here.