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FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Guide: Conducting Queries

CONDUCTING QUERIES IN THE CLEARINGHOUSE

Use these tips to complete your pre-employment query

When hiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) driver, employers must now conduct a pre-employment query. This query checks to see if there is any violation information reported to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse associated with that driver’s CDL information.

Before you can conduct the pre-employment query, you must obtain the driver’s electronic consent. In this process, the employer (or designated C/TPA) logs in to the Clearinghouse and sends the request, the driver then logs in to his or her Clearinghouse account to respond to the request.

I am trying to conduct the pre-employment query, but the Clearinghouse says it cannot verify the driver’s CDL information.

The Clearinghouse checks the CDL information you entered with the States’ CDL systems, which tracks driver CDLs nationwide. If the information you entered does not verify, make sure you have entered the driver’s CDL information correctly. If the CDL number has special characters (such as spaces, dashes, or leading zeros), try entering the CDL number with or without these characters, as requirements vary by State.

I was able to submit the consent request, but the driver does not see it in his/her dashboard.

First, make sure the driver has a verified CDL in their Clearinghouse profile. Have the driver log in to his or her Clearinghouse account. If the driver has not verified his or her CDL information, there will be a message on his or her Driver Dashboard with next steps prompting him or her to do so. Once the driver has verified their CDL, the pending consent request should display on their Driver Dashboard.

If you have confirmed that the driver has verified his or her CDL information in the Clearinghouse, and the driver still does not see the pending consent request, try sending a new consent request (you can cancel the pending consent request, which will credit your query balance). This time, when you enter the CDL information, enter it exactly as the driver entered it in the Clearinghouse, including all zeroes, dashes, special characters, etc.

If you follow these steps and still encounter issues, please contact us.

Learn More About Queries and Consent Requests →
Visit the Enhanced
Clearinghouse Learning Center

The Clearinghouse Learning Center has been updated with additional job aids and instructional resources. Select your user role to access information tailored to your role.

Visit the Learning Center →

Latest Blogs

  • CARB Truck Partnership Under Attack…and Rightfully So!August 20, 2025 - 2:57 pmby: Lee Brown
  • California Office of Administrative Law Rejects WSTA Petition Against CARBAugust 20, 2025 - 1:31 pmby: Lee Brown
  • Read the 17-Org Industry Letter to the Engine Manufacturers Association – 8/4/2025August 5, 2025 - 3:14 pmby: Publisher
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Upland, CA 91786-6031

Latest News

  • CARB Truck Partnership Under Attack…and Rightfully So!
  • California Office of Administrative Law Rejects WSTA Petition Against CARB
  • Lawsuit brought by four top truck makers against the CARB and Gavin Newsom, filed 8/11/25
  • Read TPPF’s Letter to the EPA Re: Proposed Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Rule Rescission
  • Read the 17-Org Industry Letter to the Engine Manufacturers Association – 8/4/2025

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