OMB recommends changes to drug test clearinghouse rule

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of the of the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse final rule, giving the proposal a “consistent with change” recommendation—meaning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration may move forward with the rule if it follows the OMB's recommendations, which were not made public.

This rulemaking would create a central database for verified positive controlled substances and alcohol test results for commercial driver´s license (CDL) holders and refusals by drivers to submit to testing. FMCSA proposed the rule in February 2014, and it has been long sought after by many in trucking. OMB received the final rule in May.

Speaking at the 2016 ATA Management Conference and Exhibition last month, Jack Van Steenburg, chief safety officer and assistant administrator for FMCSA, called the rule “a winner for the industry.”

“It really prevents job hopping,” he said. “It’s a tool for all of us.”

Still under review at OMB: the entry-level driver training final rule, received Aug. 29.