The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced updates to its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to improve data accuracy and security. These changes could also affect motorcoach drivers who hold commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs).

The Clearinghouse is a national database used by employers, law enforcement, and state agencies to identify commercial drivers, including motorcoach operators, who are prohibited from operating vehicles due to drug and alcohol violations.

Under the update, certain Clearinghouse users, including medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and employers, will be required to complete enhanced identity verification steps. The new process is designed to strengthen fraud prevention and improve the reliability of driver records that motorcoach companies rely on for hiring and compliance. The move aims to “enhance reliability for over six million users in the database.”

“Safety is non-negotiable at FMCSA, and that means ensuring the systems we rely on are secure, accurate, and trustworthy,” said FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs. “By strengthening identity verification, we are closing gaps that could be exploited by bad actors, protecting the integrity of the data, and reinforcing confidence across the entire commercial driver safety industry.”

The verification process will be conducted using IDEMIA, a secure identity verification provider also used by the Department of Homeland Security. While CDL holders are already verified through state licensing systems, the added safeguards for other users and employers are intended to support more accurate reporting and oversight across the industry.