So my employer sent me thru CDL Training School in 2017. After I passed the road test at the DMV, I went in and got my license. The next day I got my tanker endorsement and back to work I went. I am the only driver at my location.
Dumb question #1: Is my employer obligated to register with the FMCSA as a company that employs a Commercial Driver? If so, why? If not, why not?
My reason for asking is that I can’t get straight answers from anyone at my job about this and not one time have I been drug tested in the 5 years I have had my CDL. I have applied to other employers and it seems I need some clean drug tests showing on my record to get a new job. (I have recently registered in the Clearing House)
Dumb question #2: After obtaining my CDL, how does the FMCSA find out that I am now a Commercial Driver and should be subject to the drug/alcohol testing program? Do I tell them? Does the state of Virginia tell them? Does my employer tell them? How does FMCSA get in touch with me to do the testing if I am not on their radar?
None of this was covered in CDL Training School by the way, so I assumed once I gained CDL Driver status at the DMV, the DMV would forward that info to the FMCSA. No?
I have just started to apply to other places and I’m finding things in the applications that raise these questions and some things that will possibly keep me from being hired.
Verifiable driving. How is my driving verified? I drive about 30 miles a day so I don’t have to keep a log and I never drive for more than 4 hours on any given day.
I feel like my company is trying to do some shady stuff and if I have to drop the FMCSA hammer on them, I will. I just want to leave there for another job but the lack of info I have so far is getting in the way.
Maybe someone here can help. Thank you for reading.
