The Clearinghouse is broken
It is destroying drivers; not protecting roadways.

I know this fight personally, as do many others I share the road with. In 2020, I became entrapped in the Clearinghouse system. Miscommunication and misunderstanding led to an automatic refusal with no opportunity to actually submit a test. This kept me trapped for years; not because I refused to do my part, but because the system and employers did not do theirs. I have lost time, money, opportunities, and respect that I spent years building. I have had to fight every step just to move forward. Calls go unanswered, disputes go ignored, and far too often, we are met with rude employers who treat us as less than human.

But this is not just my story. Across the country, drivers who have never had a violation are still treated like they are  on probation; forced into constant queries, yearly screens, and a system that makes us prove we are worthy of the very jobs that keep America moving. 

We sacrifice time with our families, work 14-hour days, drive 11 hours straight, sleep in our trucks and are required to comply with a system that is designed to hold us hostage. 

During the pandemic, we were essential while others were safe in their homes. Now we are disposable.

The Clearinghouse is meant to ensure safety, not punish drivers who have done nothing wrong or make a mistake impossible to recover from.

What we want:

1. Fair Follow-Ups
Once a driver begins the SAP follow-up testing plan, they must be given a fair chance to work. Employers should not blacklist or block actively compliant drivers.

2. Equal Accountability

Once the follow-up step is reached,  employers should not be able to acquire every detail in a driver’s account. Employers should see compliance status, not personal details meant for regulators only.

3. Transparency & Respect

Drivers deserve respect, clear updates, and fair processes. We are not disposable.

4.Equal Standards

If drivers are required to be perfect, employers and agencies should be held to the same standard.

We are forced to adhere to strict guidelines, yet agencies can delay changes with no consequence. Disputes can take 45–60 days or longer, leaving us in limbo. That is unacceptable.

Employer accountability 

5. Follow-up tests must be required, not optional. No driver should be trapped in limbo because an employer refuses to schedule tests.

The program is great, but it needs to be amended to allow for rehabilitation, not destroying lives.

6. The 5-year wait

Five years is too long. After three years, drivers who have remained clean should be eligible for review. MVR, DOT history, and SAP reports should all factor into an early release. And if you complete all steps 1-6 there is absolutely no reason for a company to still be able to pull up your account and blacklist you even though yoh completed the program.

It is unfair and unreasonable to allow drivers convicted of DUIs to remain employable, while compliant drivers with spotless records are locked out of jobs.
 
We are not seeking, nor expecting a free pass. We want safe roads, fair treatment, and respect. Because at the end of the day, safe roads take both lanes and there is enough room for us.

STOP RUINING LIVES!!!!!!!!