On December 5, 2016, the FMCSA detailed the requirements for a Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The clearinghouse will be a central database containing the drug and alcohol testing records of CDL holders. The database aims to improve safety on the roads by identifying regulated drivers who committed drug and alcohol violations that disqualify them from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). The final rule took effect on January 4, 2017; employers will need to begin complying with the rule on January 4, 2020. When employers check the clearinghouse for a current or prospective driver, the information held in the database will alert them of drivers who committed a drug or alcohol violation while driving for another employer, or who try to find work elsewhere. This way, the employer can prevent ineligible drivers from performing safety-sensitive tasks until they complete the return-to-duty process. The clearinghouse attempts to resolve the problem of drivers hiding their drug and alcohol violations by moving from job to job or location to location. Drug and alcohol violation records retained in the clearinghouse will remain linked with the driver’s record for five years, regardless of how many times he or she changes employers, seeks employment, or applies for a CDL in a different state.