Carriers Cough Up Hiring Fee

As part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) new Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule, trucking companies soon will be required to pay the agency a fee prior to hiring each driver—in addition to an annual fee for currently employed drivers.

Starting Jan. 6, 2020, carriers will be mandated to query an FMCSA database of drivers who have refused or failed drug and alcohol tests before they hire a new driver. They also will have to consult the database at least once per year for drivers they already employ. The database will provide drug and alcohol testing information for the past five years.