392.15 FMCSR Citation: Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse

Yes, almost certainly. Across our inspection records, 392.15 citations result in an out-of-service order 98.7% of the time—1,476 out of 1,496 all-time citations led to immediate placement OOS. This is dramatically higher than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%. When an inspector finds that you're in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse as unable to perform safety-sensitive functions, that violation is treated as an immediate compliance issue, and your vehicle will be removed from service until the underlying clearinghouse matter is resolved.

First: contact your company's safety and compliance team or DOT liaison immediately. Your truck is likely out of service now. Second: verify your status in the Federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (FMCSA's online portal). If you believe there's an error in your record, start a DataQs dispute through your state's driver licensing agency—these challenges can address documentation or data-entry mistakes. Third: understand that our data shows 20 co-occurring citations on average with 392.15 inspections; the most common are missing or invalid CDL documentation (32 shared inspections in the last 90 days) and lack of valid medical certificate (23 shared inspections). Get those sorted while the clearinghouse status is being cleared.

Yes, significantly. The 98.7% out-of-service rate for 392.15 far exceeds the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%. For comparison, related unsafe-driving codes like 392.2 (operating while ill or fatigued) show out-of-service rates between 0.0% and 2.4% depending on the specific variant. Our inspection records show 392.15 is treated as a hard stop: you cannot legally operate a commercial vehicle if you're flagged in the clearinghouse, so inspectors have no discretion. It's not a warning-level violation.

In the last 180 days, Texas leads by a wide margin with 80 citations, followed by Georgia (18 citations) and Alabama (17 citations). Our data shows Texas accounts for roughly 47% of all 392.15 citations in the top-10 enforcement states during that period. Arizona, Missouri, Ohio, New York, Louisiana, and Colorado each show 11–16 citations. If you're operating in Texas, the odds of encountering this citation type are substantially higher than in other states.

Moderately common. Our database of 13 million+ inspection records ranks 392.15 at #606 out of 3,036 FMCSR codes by all-time citation volume, with 1,496 total citations. In the last 90 days, we've recorded 154 citations for this code. While it's not in the top 50 most-cited violations, it appears consistently enough that fleet managers should treat clearinghouse compliance as a standing training and audit priority.

Enforcement volume has been elevated and volatile over the past 12 months. Our monthly trend data shows citations peaked in October 2025 at 81 (with 81 out-of-service), dipped to 48 in November, then surged to 78 in December. The past six months (November 2025–April 2026) averaged roughly 60 citations per month. This suggests consistent enforcement pressure rather than a declining or rising trend—clearinghouse-related stops remain a regular fixture of roadside inspection activity.

Possibly, but only if the error is in the data itself. DataQs (FMCSA's Roadside Data Verification and Correction system) allows drivers to contest inspection records if there's a documentation mistake, clerical error, or data-entry problem. However, if you're legitimately listed in the Federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse—meaning you failed a test, refused a test, or violated clearinghouse requirements—the citation reflects a real compliance failure, not a data error. The remedy is to clear your clearinghouse status first (via your state licensing agency or an authorized testing/evaluation program), then request a follow-up inspection to confirm the violation is no longer applicable.

Our inspection data shows that when 392.15 is cited, drivers frequently have companion violations. In the last 90 days, the most common co-occurring codes were: operating without a valid CDL (32 shared inspections), missing a medical certificate (23 shared inspections), failing to maintain hours-of-service records (19 shared inspections), and lacking proof of periodic vehicle inspection (18 shared inspections). This pattern suggests that drivers flagged in the clearinghouse often have multiple compliance gaps. After resolving the clearinghouse issue, audit all documentation—license, medical certificate, logbook, and vehicle inspection—before returning to service.