FMCSA Update: No More Test Downgrade Requests

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently issued a directive regarding requests to downgrade a DOT drug test to a non-DOT drug test. As of February 5, 2024, the FMCSA will no longer accept requests to convert a DOT drug test to a non-DOT drug test.

What This Change Means for You

Prior to this directive change, regulated Employers or Medical Review Officers (MROs) could request “DOT Downgrades” in cases where a non-DOT test was performed as a DOT test in error. This is no longer the case, and DriverCheck has been informed by our laboratory partners that they will no longer accept requests to downgrade a DOT test to non-DOT. As such, DriverCheck will no longer accept or fulfill requests to downgrade DOT tests to non-DOT.

If a drug and alcohol violation has been incorrectly reported to the FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse based on a non-DOT drug test or a DOT drug test that should have been processed as non-DOT, a petition to request correction of the driver’s Clearinghouse record may be submitted through the FMCSA’s DataQs system here: DataQs

For a test that was completed as a DOT test in error and not yet entered into the Clearinghouse, the employer can choose not to enter it without consulting the FMCSA. However, the FMCSA has advised that the employer should create a record of the justification that would be available upon request in the event of a future inspection. DriverCheck will help you create a record of justification for such tests.

If you have any questions, please contact our Client Support Group at (800) 463-4310 option 4 or by email at ClientSupport@DriverCheck.ca. You can also contact your DriverCheck representative directly.

Learn More:

FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse

FMCSA Regulatory Change Coming to 413

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)