DRIVER ONBOARDING
How to set up an FMCSA Clearinghouse account
Set the account up before you need a pre-employment query. Owner-operators have an extra step: they must work with a consortium/third-party administrator for their own drug and alcohol program.
TIME: Usually 15–30 minutes if company verification is straightforward
COST: Account registration is free; queries are purchased separately
Last reviewed August 21, 2026
Before you start
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USDOT number and company information
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Your role with the company
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C/TPA information when applicable
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Payment method for a query plan
Get it done
01
Register through the official Clearinghouse
Use Login.gov and select the role that matches what you actually do—employer, driver, or both when applicable.
02
Connect the employer account
Associate the account with the correct company and USDOT information, then confirm the company details.
03
Designate a C/TPA when required
An owner-operator must designate a C/TPA. Other employers may use one, but should grant only the permissions needed for the work being performed.
04
Purchase a query plan
Pre-employment and annual queries require a query balance. Buying a plan does not run a query by itself.
05
Prepare the driver side
A driver needs a Clearinghouse account to provide electronic consent for a full query. Build that step into onboarding instead of discovering it on the first workday.
06
Run and retain the required queries
Complete the pre-employment query before safety-sensitive work and then track the annual query from its actual completion date.
Where people usually get stuck
Login.gov handles sign-in; the Clearinghouse handles the employer, driver, and C/TPA roles. If sign-in fails, use Login.gov support. If the account opens but the company or role is wrong, use the Clearinghouse employer help material before creating another account.
Open the Clearinghouse employer help center →
What to save when you finish
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Company-account confirmation
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C/TPA designation and permissions
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Query results and required consents
Creating an account does not enroll a driver in a testing consortium, order a drug test, or complete a query. Those are separate actions.
Filing it is the easy part. Remembering the next one is what gets people.
When the document is finished, save the completion date and next deadline in We Heart Paperwork.
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