MVS Division Settles Step-4 Grievance on Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

Earlier this summer, MVS announced a National Dispute on the Postal Service’s unilateral implementation of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse Consent Form and Program. 

During the Step-4 meeting, the parties discussed the form, program and issues involved including the Article 1, 5 and 19 violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement which prohibit unilateral actions that directly impact wages, hours or working conditions. 

After much discussion, the parties have come to agreement regarding the dispute, which includes the following form language: 

“By my signature below, I hereby provide consent to the United States Postal Service (Postal Service) to conduct the required annual limited queries of the FMCSA Commercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) to determine whether drug or alcohol violation information about me exists in the Clearinghouse.”

Click here to view the full Step-4 Agreement. 

“The Consent form negotiated by the parties was substantially different from the original USPS Limited Query Consent form. This form is for a two year period, the same length of time as the DOT physical card,” said MVS Director Michael O. Foster. “The employee still has to give permission for the USPS to run a full query if something comes up in the limited query. There’s also language against running a limited query if the employee is not in a safety sensitive position that requires a Commercial Driver’s License.”

The Clearinghouse is mandated by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act. (MAP-21).