My Questions About the New Clearinghouse Database

One more reason to quit the industry completely is about to be foisted on us. January 6 is the activation date of the new clearinghouse database, the database that keeps tabs on drivers who fail drug and alcohol tests or refuse to take a test when asked. The problem is all drivers will be required to enter themselves into the database, as when one changes jobs after January 6, that person's target company will be required to check the driver's record in the database. Emphasis on ALL DRIVERS. No matter if you've ever failed a test or refused a test (or not), you'll need to input your info into the database. This thing is fraught with potential abuse, so I have some questions about it. If I don't like the answers, it's "Hello, DMV. Here's my CDL back. You can keep it. I'm gone from trucking for good."

1. When a driver inputs his info into the Clearinghouse, does the info remain in it forever? If I later quit the industry altogether and get rid of my CDL, can I have my information removed from the database?

2. If my company / former company makes a "mistake" and falsely inputs that I refused to take a test or failed a test, how long does it take to straighten it out?

3. If a vindictive insider decides to get in one last dig by trying to screw with me a final time with a falsehood, can I file a lawsuit against the company?

4. If any insider inputs any info into my Clearinghouse file, do I get some kind of alert that that has happened?

5. What's the appeals process?

6. Who pays to access the database when a company needs to look at a driver's record? I will assume the driver will have to cover that cost.

7. Can a driver take a test on his own and have the lab input the results into his Clearinghouse file?

Another database, gentlemen. What do you think? Think this will FINALLY drive us all to go on strike for three weeks?

 

This doesn't seem like a huge deal if you're doing what you're supposed to

 

Like DAC, its potential for abuse by insiders to get some digs into you may be too much temptation for them. And we know how long it takes to get a DAC report error corrected. Too #### long.

 

You sound paranoid if you are doing nothing wrong what's to worry about ,

 

I think whatever goes into this new database will remain forever.

This will be the final straw as having myself as a asset to the Trucking Industry into someone who has decided because of this database I simply wont do trucking on the road anymore. I have the skills and experience but it's no good to the Nation or anyone in it as long this database is operational. And I can assume as long there is a United States this Database will endure with this information branded on it for life.

I am not worried about myself because Ive been off the road so long, that if i hired on it will be as if I never drove a rig at all. Which will quickly turn out to be untrue. However there are many company in my history that are bankrupt and out of business entirely. So there is nothing and no one to check. Now if you were able to run a database in a permanent situation it will retain whatever it is you have done forever and ever. That will eventually weed out bad drivers and keep them out of the industry.

Then we will really know what the driver shortage is all about. Because too many people like myself has nothing to worry about in our records at all. Little things here and there and small problems but ultimately nothing that will bar hiring etc. And I choose simply not to participate at all.

Ive seen this happen at least once before. Back in the early 90's when the new CDL laws took effect. Hundreds of thousands of good experienced drivers quit trucking. Creating a one hell of a hiring situation for me, and my stack of 7 points on tickets, mostly speeding. I was hire able in those days. Today it would not be at all. End stop all out. No more trucking period.

 

Most of your questions are answered on the FMCSA webpage. There is a link to ask specific questions, but from personal experience I wouldn’t expect a reply.

 

Drivers enter no information.
Company enters any positive test.
D/A testing lab enters any positive test.
Employer must run pre-employment through data base.
Employer must run each year, just like MVR
State must run before issue/re-new CDL.

Read some of the posts about drug tests and you'll see why this came about.

 

His paranoia is well founded.
In society in years passed people were driven to do the right thing because of ethics , morals and self pride.
We no longer have a society driven by such values.
It is driven now by the what’s in it for me and the revenge mentality.
I have seen many innocent people’s lives ruined by the manipulation of programs such as this by unscrupulous people for personal gain.
Time for the sheep to wake up and get this nation back on track.

 

Really? I don't remember that. When we added 6 trucks to the fleet we had 150 applications from drivers.

 

The companies could literally blackball you forever.
Or make your life miserable.
This is ripe for vengeful companies to screw
Drivers over even more.

On the other hand, as more and more states
Legalize marijuana,the pool of suckers there
Used to sucking in is gonna dry up.

They're fighting a losing battle.