DMVs Downgrading CDLs for Failure to Implement Return-to-Duty Process
The last thing your good safety record needs is a truck driver with a history of violations. That’s why, with any driver applicant, a motor carrier should check the motor vehicle record (MVR), look at the FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening Program (https://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov/psp/home), and, especially now, examine the driver’s status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/).
To avoid disruption to your business on November 18, there are other steps that should be taken.
As of November 18, FMCSA requires each state DMV to downgrade any CDL and CLP drivers listed In the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse “prohibited” status because of past drug and alcohol violations. “Prohibited” drivers are those who have not enrolled and completed the “return to duty” (RTD) process and, thus, cannot legally operate a truck.
Over 175,000 truck drivers, listed as “prohibited,” have not taken that step. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years to complete the RTD process.
For fleet owners, some of those “prohibited” drivers may seek employment before their license is officially gone. But unless they are in the RTD program, they are prohibited from driving.
For truckers, testing for marijuana continues. Just as with testing for cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and opioids, testing for marijuana will continue to be conducted on a pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty basis.
As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with tires, brakes, and overall vehicle condition. Summer heat doesn’t just stress drivers, it amplifies mechanical weaknesses, making maintenance and inspections more important than ever.
The 2026 road construction season is going to be one of the largest in U.S. history and anyone using the roads should be prepared for what’s coming.