ARLINGTON, VA — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended the comment period on its proposal to establish a national clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results from April 21 to May 21. It will post a final rule after it has reviewed the comments and made adjustments if necessary.

The comment period extension is in response to a petition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).

The clearinghouse is designed to prevent commercial drivers in the states from hiding drug or alcohol violations and ensure that U.S. carriers are meeting their responsibility to test for substance abuse, but will apply to all CDL drivers who operate commercial vehicles subject to CDL requirements or Canadian or Mexican equivalent on U.S. public roads.

Carriers would report test results and refusals and would be required to check the database for current driver employees each year, among other things. 

See Today’s Trucking’s story from February to learn more about who’s affected. 

OOIDA said it needs more time to prepare comments on the complex proposal, not just on behalf of its general membership, but also on behalf of the drug testing consortium it runs for some of its members.

In extending the comment period, FMCSA said it acknowledges OOIDA’s concerns.

Public comments can be made via:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov; 
• Fax: 1-202-493-2251;
• Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001;
• Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.

All comments must use the docket number FMCSA-2010-0031 or RIN 2126-AB18.