FTA Drug and Alcohol Newsletter: July 2020, Issue 69

July 29th, 2020 - Federal Transit Administration

A new issue of the newsletter from the FTA Drug & Alcohol Program is now available. Issue 69 includes information on the free drug and alcohol program tools available from FTA, Drug and Alcohol COVID-19 FAQ, pre-employment testing after an extended absence, an article on Custody and Control Forms and Employee ID Numbers, and more. Please share the newsletter with colleagues and send comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Notice of Enforcement Discretion Determination

Random Controlled Substance and Alcohol Testing

July 6th, 2020 - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

On March 13, 2020, the President declared a national emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b), related to the effects of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is aware that the motor carrier industry continues to experience operational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. As the Nation engages in a phased re-opening, the pace of return to normal operations will vary across the country. In some regions of the United States, motor carrier employers subject to controlled substance (drug) and alcohol testing under 49 CFR part 382 may be unable to comply with certain testing requirements due to the ongoing impacts of the emergency.

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Add Your USDOT Number to Your Clearinghouse Account

June 18, 2020 - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Adding a USDOT Number

Employers can associate their Clearinghouse activity with the USDOT Numbers in their FMCSA Portal accounts

FMCSA has updated the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to allow employers to link their Clearinghouse accounts with their FMCSA Portal accounts. This will enable employers to associate Clearinghouse activity (reporting violations, conducting queries, purchasing query plans, and designating consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs)) with a specified USDOT Number in their Portal account.

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DOT Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Notice

February 18, 2020 - Department of Transportation

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-334, (Farm Bill) removed hemp from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the Farm Bill, hemp-derived products containing a concentration of up to 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are not controlled substances. THC is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. Any product, including “Cannabidiol” (CBD) products, with a concentration of more than 0.3% THC remains classified as marijuana, a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

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Conducting Bulk Queries

February 12, 2020 - Overdrive Online | Written by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Upload multiple queries at once using the bulk upload option.

The Clearinghouse supports the option for employers and consortia/third-party administrators (C/TPAs) to conduct queries individually, or to upload multiple queries at once.

How do I conduct a bulk query?

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