Employer Sponsorship

When navigating the FMCSA Clearinghouse, employers have a critical role in managing their drivers’ drug and alcohol testing information. Step 6: Employer Sponsorship is an essential part of the process where employers formally register and gain authorization to access their drivers' Clearinghouse records.

In this post, we'll break down what Employer Sponsorship means, how to complete it, and why it’s necessary for staying compliant with the FMCSA’s regulations.

Employer Sponsorship is the process through which a company or organization—specifically a motor carrier with a DOT NUMBER—registers in the FMCSA Clearinghouse and becomes authorized to query the database for information about their commercial drivers.

This step is essential for employers who wish to ensure that their drivers are compliant with federal drug and alcohol regulations. Through the Employer Sponsorship process, the employer is granted access to run queries on their drivers' records, including drug and alcohol test violations, refusals, and compliance with the return-to-duty process.

1. Legal Requirement: Employers must be able to access the FMCSA Clearinghouse to comply with federal regulations that require them to check their drivers' drug and alcohol history. Without sponsorship, they won’t be able to run required queries on potential hires or current employees.
    
2. Driver Safety: By sponsoring their company in the Clearinghouse, employers help prevent drivers with violations from getting behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. This reduces risks and promotes a safer work environment.
    
3. Ensure Compliance: Through the sponsorship process, employers confirm that they understand and will adhere to the FMCSA regulations regarding drug and alcohol testing. It helps employers stay up to date with the necessary policies for maintaining compliance.
    
4. Pre-Employment and Ongoing Monitoring: Employers must use their access to the Clearinghouse not just for hiring decisions but for ongoing monitoring of their drivers throughout their employment. This ensures that safety is prioritized and that any issues are caught early.
    

After completing the employer sponsorship process, the employer is able to take full advantage of the FMCSA Clearinghouse features:

1. Pre-Employment Queries:
   Employers must run a pre-employment query to check the drug and alcohol violation history of any driver they are considering hiring. This is required by FMCSA regulation to ensure the driver does not have any unresolved violations.
    
2. Annual Queries:
   Employers must also run annual queries on current employees to ensure that there have been no violations or changes in their drug and alcohol testing status.
    
3. Return-to-Duty Tracking:
   If a driver has a violation and goes through the return-to-duty process, employers can use the Clearinghouse to track their compliance with the necessary steps before they can drive again.
    
4. Managing Violations:
   The employer will be notified if any of their drivers have violations recorded in the Clearinghouse, and they must take action according to FMCSA regulations.
    

By having a true DOT number and Regulated Employer backing your return to duty process (not a random company without a DOT number or JUST a C/TPA) your return to duty will be solidified with the employer sponsoring your return to duty process!

• NO NEED TO REGISTER FOR YOUR OWN DOT NUMBER
• NO NEED FOR REGISTERING AS AN OWNER OPERATOR
• NOT A C/TPA OR THIRD PARTY -- SHELBY COMPANY LIMITED IS A TRUE DOT EMPLOYER OF CDL HOLDERS; LOOK US UP ON SAFER! 

NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT SCAMS OR LEGITIMACY! 

REPORTING TO CLEARINGHOUSE IS ALWAYS FREE ONCE YOU COMPLETE YOUR STEPS! 

NO VIOLATION CLOSEOUT PRICES !!  (what is that anyway?)