Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH)
The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (DACH) is a secure online database operated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). DACH provides employers, state driver licensing agencies, and state law enforcement personnel real-time information about commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders’ drug and alcohol program violations.
The DACH contains records of violations of drug and alcohol prohibitions including positive drug or alcohol test results and test refusals. When a driver completes the return-to-duty process and follow-up testing plan, this information will also be recorded in the Clearinghouse.
Drivers holding CLPs or CDLs are subject to this federal requirement and should be registering with the DACH. Non-CDL holders and their employers are not subject to DACH requirements and should not be registering with the Clearinghouse.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Status and CDL Downgrades
As established in the first Clearinghouse final rule, drivers with a “prohibited” Clearinghouse status are prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) on public roads. The second Clearinghouse final rule (Clearinghouse-II) further supports this by ensuring that drivers with a “prohibited” Clearinghouse status do not continue to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learner’s permit (CLP).
Beginning November 18, 2024, State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) are required to remove the commercial driving privileges from the driver's license of an individual subject to the CMV driving prohibition. This will result in a downgrade of the license until the driver completes the return-to-duty (RTD) process.
My CDL was downgraded due to my “prohibited” Clearinghouse status. How can I get my commercial driving privileges reinstated?
- The first step is to have your Clearinghouse status change from “prohibited” to “not prohibited.” To do this, you must complete the return-to-duty (RTD) process. FMCSA has created several resources to help you complete this process.
- After you complete the RTD process and update your Clearinghouse status to “not prohibited," check your CDL status online before operating a commercial motor vehicle.
DACH is a FMCSA program and is not administered by the Iowa DOT. For more information visit the FMCSA clearinghouse website or call the FMCSA information line at 1-800-832-5660 or the FMCSA Iowa Field Office at 515-233-7400.
Get a more detailed FMCSA overview of the DACH process for employers.