Effective November 18, 2024 – New FMCSA Rule Mandates CDL Downgrades for Drug Violations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is mandating States to downgrade Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL) for drug & alcohol violations that have been reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse if the driver is placed on prohibited driving status.
The new requirement is part of FMCSA’s Clearinghouse II regulation. This is intended to make it more difficult for drivers to continue operating commercial motor vehicles after receiving a drug or alcohol violation.
Clearinghouse II requires State driver license agencies to remove the commercial driving privileges of drivers that are in a “prohibited” status in the FMCSA Clearinghouse.
The “prohibited” status can be removed and the CDL privileges reinstated once the driver completes the return-to-duty process, which includes an evaluation and authorization from a certified Substance Abuse Professional to return-to-duty after following a prescribed education or treatment plan and passing a return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test for a motor carrier.
