The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has corrected a portion of last year’s final rule concerning the establishment of new minimum training standards for obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
The correction fixes the instruction and associated regulatory text to preserve the recent changes published in the final rule addressing the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
The final rule affects individuals applying for a CDL for the first time; upgrading their CDL; or obtaining a school bus, hazardous materials or passenger endorsement.
The Clearinghouse is a database that contains information on individuals who violate the U.S. Department of Transportation controlled substances and alcohol testing program.
Beginning February 2020, state driver licensing agencies are required to query the Clearinghouse when a CDL is issued, renewed, transferred or upgraded.
In addition, employers are mandated to use the database to clear prospective employees of violations before allowing them to operate a commercial motor vehicle on public roads and annually check the status of drivers they currently employ.
The agency made these corrections to ensure the original language in the Clearinghouse final rule remained in effect.
