Guidance on the functions a C/TPA may perform on behalf of an employer in Clearinghouse

Q&A
May an employer authorize a consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA) to conduct queries and/or report violations in the Clearinghouse on their behalf?

Guidance: 
Yes. Employers may designate a C/TPA or C/TPAs to conduct queries and/or report violations on their behalf. See 49 CFR 382.705(c), 382.711(b)(3). The C/TPA must be registered in the Clearinghouse before an employer can select the C/TPA, and C/TPAs must be designated by the employer before reporting drug and alcohol program violations or querying the Clearinghouse on their behalf. See 49 CFR 382.711(d).

An owner-operator (an employer that employs himself or herself as a commercial driver’s license (CDL) driver, typically a single-driver operation) must designate their C/TPA(s) as part of their Clearinghouse registration process. See 49 CFR 382.705(b)(6).