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

Need help with a prerequisite?

Set up and protect your Login.gov account →

Get it done

Use Login.gov and select the role that matches what you actually do—employer, driver, or both when applicable.

Connect the employer account

Associate the account with the correct company and USDOT information, then confirm the company details.

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.

Purchase a query plan

Pre-employment and annual queries require a query balance. Buying a plan does not run a query by itself.

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.

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.

GO TO THE RIGHT PLACE

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-plan receipt

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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.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Straight answers before you start.

Is the annual Clearinghouse query due on the same date every year?

Not necessarily. FMCSA tracks the annual requirement on a rolling 12-month basis tied to the last query, unless the employer uses another compliant 12-month period.

Can a limited query satisfy the annual requirement?

Yes. FMCSA says limited queries can satisfy the annual query requirement. A full query is required for pre-employment and when detailed information must be accessed.

What consent is required?

A limited query uses general written or electronic consent obtained outside the Clearinghouse. A full query requires the driver's specific electronic consent inside the Clearinghouse.

Does an owner-operator have to query himself or herself?

Yes. FMCSA says owner-operators are subject to the employer query requirement and must designate a C/TPA as part of their Clearinghouse setup.

Filing it is the easy part. Remembering the next one is what gets people.

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Understand the requirement

OFFICIAL SOURCES

FMCSA Clearinghouse — Registration

→

FMCSA Clearinghouse — Employer Learning Center

→

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