CDL Driver Back on the Road? Make Sure You’re Really Cleared

If you're a CDL driver or any employee in a DOT safety-sensitive role who has completed the return-to-duty process after a drug or alcohol violation, this post is for you. Even when everything seems in place, there are a few critical steps and common pitfalls that determine whether you are actually cleared to get behind the wheel again.

Step 1: Check the Clearinghouse Dashboard

Even after you have:

1. Completed your Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) evaluation
2. Passed your return-to-duty (RTD) drug test
3. Been told by your employer that you are good to go

You are not officially eligible to return until your Clearinghouse dashboard reflects it.

Your employer must enter the date they received your negative return-to-duty test result into the FMCSA Clearinghouse. Once that happens, your status will change from “ineligible” to “eligible.”

Do not return to duty until you confirm this yourself. Even if you have done everything right, if your dashboard does not show an eligible status, you are not legally permitted to operate a commercial vehicle.

Step 2: Understand Your Follow-Up Testing Plan

After returning to duty, you will be required to complete a series of unannounced, random drug or alcohol tests. Here is what to know:

1. The SAP who evaluated you creates the follow-up testing plan
2. These tests are unannounced and can occur at any time
3. The follow-up testing period can last up to five years

If you test positive during a follow-up test, it is treated as a new violation and the entire SAP process starts over.

A second violation also means you must find another SAP willing to evaluate you again. This is not guaranteed, and some SAPs will not accept clients with repeat violations.

What About Continuing Care?

As part of the evaluation process, the SAP may recommend continuing care such as counseling, support groups, or other services to support long-term recovery.

These recommendations may be included in a return-to-work agreement. However, the SAP who completed your evaluation does not monitor continuing care.

That responsibility falls to the employer and their internal processes. Employers should decide how continuing care is tracked or enforced and ensure policies are clearly defined and consistently applied.

If you are an employer or SAP setting up internal procedures, this is the stage where it is important to:

1. Define who monitors ongoing care
2. Document expectations in policies and statements of understanding
3. Maintain a consistent approach to compliance management

Final Thoughts

Returning to duty after a violation is a major step. Staying informed and compliant is what keeps that progress intact. Whether you are the employee, employer, or SAP, understanding who is responsible for each part of the process helps prevent delays, violations, and unnecessary confusion.

One simple rule applies across the board: always verify your Clearinghouse dashboard before returning to safety-sensitive work. That final confirmation can protect your license and your career.