Your towing business is open to several risks, and one of the most critical is your employees’ adherence to safe performance standards. The towing industry is already a high-risk profession, from deaths incurred by drivers getting hit by passing vehicles to injuries as a result of not using equipment correctly. While there are many reasons why employees fail to follow safety protocols, a common culprit is drug and alcohol usage. To help employers manage their risks and promote safe operating habits, enrollment in the FMCSA Clearinghouse became mandatory as of January 6, 2020.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented an online database to track and report information about drivers holding Commercial Driving Licenses (CDL). All CDL holders are required to enroll in the database. All violations of drug and alcohol prohibitions in 40 CFR Part 382, Subpart B (including positive drug or alcohol tests AND test refusals) are recorded there. Information about return-to-duty processes and completion of follow-up testing is also included in the records.
While much of the information about the database has been geared toward the trucking industry, it impacts almost every business that employs CDL drivers. If your drivers must have a CDL license, you need to know about the FMCSA Clearinghouse.
How is the FMCSA Clearinghouse information used?
There are two primary ways the FMCSA Clearinghouse information will be used. First, State Driver Licensing Agencies will be able to review a person’s records prior to issuing, renewing, transferring, or upgrading a CDL license. Secondly, motor carriers and other employers of drivers operating commercial motor vehicles requiring a CDL license or commercial learner’s permit will be able to review an applicant’s records before hiring or their employees’ records at any time. In fact, the program is intended to require employers to conduct limited queries at least annually for every driver they employ to help ensure higher safety standards will be met on the road. The individual, however, must provide authorization to a prospective or current employer to access his or her record.
Medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, enforcement personnel, and some third-party administrators will also have access to review or enter information in the database. The information in the database is subject to some of the rules under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), specifically related to the accuracy of the information and the ability to dispute errors. The individual can review his or her record at any time.
Where can you find more information about the database?
If your towing company isn’t up to speed on the FMCSA Clearinghouse, you can still get your company into compliance. More information and the registration links are available at the Clearinghouse Portal website.
Help keep your towing drivers safe with quality equipment from Collins.
Safety should be your towing company’s number one priority, and we’re here to help you keep your employees and customers safe. Collins has been an industry leader in the towing equipment industry for over 45 years. Our Hi-SpeedⓇ Dolly and Carrier Dolly systems provide towing professionals with lightweight solutions durable enough to get even large vehicles out of challenging situations and transport them safely wherever they need to go. Our products are designed with safety first to keep your employees safe while attaching and moving vehicles. Visit our website or give us a call to learn more about our products.
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