Vertical Identity vs. American Drug Testing Consortium (ADTC)
The random testing program with driver qualification files included. We found no driver qualification file software on ADTC's site.
Everything a carrier must do to hire and keep a CDL driver. Item by item.
Each row is a federal requirement or a recommended check, with the regulation that creates it. Our column shows how Vertical Identity delivers it: included in the membership (DQF Pro included) or ordered in the same portal at a published price. The ADTC column shows what we found on drugtestingconsortium.com, checked October 14, 2026.
| What a carrier needs | Vertical Identity | ADTC |
|---|---|---|
| Hiring a driver | ||
| Online employment application49 CFR § 391.21 | IncludedDQF Pro application link, on a phone or computer; VID Intelligence reads the CDL and medical card | — Not found |
| Previous-employer safety history, including drug and alcohol history49 CFR § 391.23(a)(2), (d), (e) | IncludedRequests sent and followed up in DQF Pro; employers answer online | — Not found |
| MVR from every state that licensed the driver49 CFR § 391.23(a)(1) | Published priceMember rate from $14.25 by state, all 50 states | — Not found |
| Clearinghouse pre-employment full query49 CFR § 382.701(a) | Published price$12 per query (our fee; the FMCSA credit is separate) | — Not found (Clearinghouse "reporting" mentioned; no query service or price) |
| Pre-employment drug test49 CFR § 382.301 | Published price$69 member rate, collection and MRO review included | $75 |
| Medical certificate on file49 CFR § 391.41, § 391.51(b)(6) | IncludedFiled in DQF Pro; DOT physicals ordered at $129 | — Not found |
| Road test, or a CDL accepted in its place49 CFR § 391.31, § 391.33 | IncludedTracked and filed in DQF Pro | — Not found |
| CDLIS reportRecommended | Published price$10 | — Not found |
| PSP reportRecommended · FMCSA program | Published price$20 | — Not found |
| Criminal background checkRecommended · FCRA, 15 U.S.C. § 1681b | Published price$39, run by Vertical Identity's own screening company | — Not found |
| The testing program | ||
| Random testing pool and Certificate of Enrollment49 CFR § 382.305 | IncludedIncluded, with selection notices and DER reminders until the test is done | $60/yr owner-operator membership, certificate of enrollment |
| Written drug and alcohol policy49 CFR § 382.601 | IncludedStandard policy included | — Not found |
| Supervisor reasonable-suspicion training49 CFR § 382.603 | Published price$55 per seat | Online courses for purchase, no published price |
| C/TPA designation in the Clearinghouse49 CFR § 382.705(c), § 382.711 | IncludedIncluded at no charge | Clearinghouse reporting mentioned, no published price |
| Every year | ||
| Annual Clearinghouse limited query49 CFR § 382.701(b) | Published price$12 per driver (our fee) | — Not found |
| Annual MVR and your signed review49 CFR § 391.25, § 391.51(b)(4)–(5) | Published priceReview signed and filed in DQF Pro; MVR at the member rate | — Not found |
| Medical card renewal tracking49 CFR § 391.45 | IncludedExpiration reminders in DQF Pro | — Not found |
| The driver file | ||
| A driver qualification file for every driver49 CFR § 391.51 | IncludedDQF Pro, organized to the DOT checklist | — Not found |
| Reminders before anything expiresAudit readiness | IncludedIncluded in DQF Pro | — Not found |
| Auditor export and access logAudit readiness | IncludedIncluded in DQF Pro | — Not found |
| Testing when it happens | ||
| Post-accident testing49 CFR § 382.303 | Published price$69 member rate, ordered any time from the portal | $75 drug test · $50 alcohol test |
| Reasonable-suspicion testing49 CFR § 382.307 | Published price$69 member rate | $75 drug test · $50 alcohol test |
| Return-to-duty and follow-up testing49 CFR § 382.309, § 382.311 | Published pricePost-SAP program; return-to-duty $119, follow-up $119 | — Not published |
| Covered (included or published price) | 23 of 23 | 4 of 23 |
All 23 with Vertical Identity: $85/year, driver files included. Switch from ADTC online in about five minutes.
drugtestingconsortium.com and drugtestingconsortium.com/drug-testing-fmcsa/ ($60 owner-operator membership, $250 company membership for 5–24 employees, $0 membership for 25+ with quoted test pricing, $75 drug test, $50 alcohol test) on October 14, 2026. Their FMCSA landing page (drugtestingconsortium.com/fmcsa-drug-testing/) shows a $120 company membership for 5+ employees instead. Competitor pricing changes without notice; verify on their site when you evaluate.Six things you will need that ADTC does not price
FMCSA Clearinghouse services
Their FMCSA page mentions "FMCSA clearinghouse reporting," but no registration help, C/TPA designation, or query price is published. Every carrier must register, run a pre-employment full query, and an annual limited query (49 CFR § 382.701).
Driver qualification files
No driver-file software or service found on their site. Every carrier keeps a qualification file for every driver (49 CFR § 391.51).
MVR, PSP and criminal background checks
Not found on their site. The MVR is required at hire and annually (49 CFR § 391.23, § 391.25).
DOT physical ordering
Not found on their site. The medical certificate is required before driving (49 CFR § 391.41).
Written drug and alcohol policy
Not found on their site. Every DOT employer must give drivers written policy materials (49 CFR § 382.601).
Online enrollment
"Apply Now" on the homepage and FMCSA page links to drugtestingconsortium.com/contact/; their FMCSA landing page has a consultation request form. The homepage says to "call us today for immediate enrollment."
A consortium keeps you in a random pool. Hiring and keeping a CDL driver takes 23 items, and an audit asks for all of them.
What does Vertical Identity offer that ADTC does not list?
Vertical Identity is a Phoenix-based Consortium / Third-Party Administrator (C/TPA) registered with the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, serving owner-operators and motor carriers in all 50 states. Membership is $85 a year for the first driver, $25 a year for each additional driver, or $295 a year flat for unlimited drivers. The drug testing program is included; tests are ordered when needed, at member prices: DOT drug tests at $69, breath alcohol tests at $59, Clearinghouse queries at $12 per driver (our fee), and supervisor training at $55 a seat.
American Drug Testing Consortium publishes a $60 annual owner-operator membership, a $250 company membership for 5–24 employees, $75 drug tests and $50 alcohol tests, and sells supervisor and employee training courses without a published price. Its FMCSA pages mention Clearinghouse reporting but publish no Clearinghouse service or price; we found no driver qualification file software, MVR reports, PSP or CDLIS reports, criminal background checks, DOT physicals, or a written drug and alcohol policy on its site, and enrollment runs through a phone call or contact form. Vertical Identity includes DQF Pro driver files in the membership, covers all 23 driver-compliance items in one member portal at published prices, and completes enrollment online with a same-day Certificate of Enrollment.
Where both publish a price, here they are. Where only one does, we say so.
Every ADTC cell below was read from a public product page on 2026-09-05 and re-checked October 14, 2026: drugtestingconsortium.com · drugtestingconsortium.com/drug-testing-fmcsa/ · drugtestingconsortium.com/fmcsa-drug-testing/. Vertical Identity prices come from our live price list. Where ADTC is cheaper, the row says so.
| Service | Vertical Identity | American Drug Testing Consortium (ADTC) | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consortium enrollment, first driver | $85/yr | $60/yr (owner-operator / small business) | ADTC is $25 lower on the entry fee |
| Additional driver / company plan | $25/yr each; $295/yr flat for unlimited drivers | $250/yr for 5–24 employees; $0/yr for 25+ with quoted test pricing (homepage and FMCSA page). Their FMCSA landing page shows $120/yr for 5+ employees. No tier published for 2–4 drivers. | Depends on fleet size |
| DOT drug test | $69 member rate | $75 | $6 less per test at Vertical Identity |
| Breath alcohol test (BAT) | $59 | $50 | ADTC $9 lower per alcohol test |
| Return-to-duty / follow-up test (observed) | $119 return-to-duty · $119 follow-up | Not published | Vertical Identity publishes; ADTC does not |
| Clearinghouse C/TPA designation, DIY | No charge for members; you designate us using our instructions | "FMCSA clearinghouse reporting" is mentioned on their FMCSA page; no registration or designation service is published | Vertical Identity publishes; ADTC does not |
| Clearinghouse Enrollment Setup (white-glove, shared screen) | $199 | Not published | Vertical Identity publishes; ADTC does not |
| Clearinghouse query (pre-employment full or annual limited) | $12 per driver per query (our fee; FMCSA credit separate) | Not published (reporting is mentioned, queries are not) | Vertical Identity publishes; ADTC does not |
| Supervisor / DER training | $55/seat | "Online courses available for purchase"; price not published | Vertical Identity publishes; ADTC does not |
| MVR (driving record) | member rate from $14.25 by state | Not mentioned | Vertical Identity only |
| PSP report | $20 | Not mentioned | Vertical Identity only |
| Criminal background check (FCRA) | $39 | Not mentioned | Vertical Identity only |
| DOT physical ordering | $129 | Not mentioned | Vertical Identity only |
| Written D&A policy | Standard policy included with membership (+ DOT guidebook); completed company-specific version $39 | Not mentioned | Vertical Identity only |
| Medical Review Officer | MRO review included in the drug test price | In-house MRO | Both |
| Collection sites | 20,000+ nationwide | "Over 20,000 testing locations nationwide" | Comparable |
| Enrollment | Online, about 5 minutes, same-day Certificate | "Apply Now" leads to a contact form; "call us today for immediate enrollment" | Vertical Identity is self-serve |
| Support | Live team Mon–Fri 6 AM–5 PM AZ, call or text; portal open around the clock | 24/7 support and emergency testing |
Solo driver: $290 at Vertical Identity, driver files included. ADTC: $210, before a training price they don't publish, with no driver-file software.
The same year-one scenario we use on every comparison page: a single-driver carrier enrolls, registers with the Clearinghouse and runs the pre-employment query, trains one supervisor, and runs the pre-employment test plus one random draw (about what a solo driver averages when the 50% rate is applied across a consortium pool). ADTC mentions Clearinghouse reporting but publishes no Clearinghouse price, and it does not price its training; those lines are labeled, not estimated.
| Line item | Vertical Identity | ADTC | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consortium enrollment (year 1) | $85 | $60 | ADTC $25 lower |
| Clearinghouse designation + query | No charge (DIY) + $12 query | Reporting mentioned; no service or price published | |
| Supervisor / DER training (1 seat) | $55 | Sold, price not published | |
| Pre-employment test + one random draw | $138 ($69 + $69) | $150 ($75 × 2) | Vertical Identity $12 lower |
| DQF Pro driver qualification file software | Included | Not offered. No driver-file software found on their site | |
| Published total | $290, driver files included | $210 + training at an unpublished price, no driver files | ADTC $80 lower on the priced lines |
ADTC is the lower bill on the testing year, and we say so. But it covers 4 of the 23 items a CDL carrier needs. Driver qualification files, the Clearinghouse queries, a written policy, MVRs, PSP and CDLIS reports, criminal background checks and physicals are yours to find elsewhere. Vertical Identity includes the driver files and publishes every other price in one portal, and you enroll online tonight instead of calling tomorrow.
Everything a compliance program should do, done in one place.
Driver qualification files, included.
DQF Pro comes with the $85/year membership, no add-on fee: a file for every driver organized to the DOT checklist, reminders before a medical card or CDL lapses, previous-employer requests tracked, and a complete file to hand an auditor any time.
Your random program, run for you.
A spot in our DOT random testing pool, a new Certificate of Enrollment every year, selection notices, and reminders to your DER until the test is done. Your selections are visible in the member portal any time.
Order drug and alcohol tests 24/7.
Order any test from the member portal at any hour. The driver gets a pre-paid electronic pass to take to one of 20,000+ collection sites nationwide. DOT drug test $69 at the member rate, with collection and Medical Review Officer review included.
MVRs, PSP, CDLIS and criminal background checks in the same portal.
Vertical Identity is also a background screening company, so we run these ourselves at published prices: MVR from $14.25 by state, PSP $20, CDLIS $10, criminal background check $39. Results land in the driver's file.
Hire a driver in one place.
Send one application link. VID Intelligence reads the driver's license and medical card and fills in the paperwork. Order the pre-hire checks, make your decision, then order the pre-employment test and Clearinghouse query, and the driver file builds itself.
Every price is published, live.
$85/year for the first driver, $25/year for each additional driver, $295/year flat for unlimited drivers. Every price on this page is read from our live price list. No quote call, no "contact us for pricing".
Clearinghouse handled two ways.
We're your C/TPA in the Clearinghouse at no charge: register on the FMCSA portal with our instructions and designate us. Or book the white-glove Clearinghouse Enrollment Setup ($199) and we do it with you on a shared screen. Queries are $12 per driver (our fee; the FMCSA credit is separate).
Your written policy is included.
A standard written drug and alcohol policy and DOT guidebook come with the membership, the § 382.601 paperwork an auditor asks for first. A version completed with your company name, DER and effective date is $39.
Post-SAP program for drivers returning to duty.
Return-to-duty and follow-up tests ordered from the same portal: return-to-duty $119, follow-up $119, observed as the rules require.
DOT physicals near any driver.
Order a DOT physical ($129) with a certified medical examiner near the driver. The medical certificate goes into the driver's file.
Enroll in about five minutes, online.
Type your USDOT number and we pull the carrier name, address and driver count from FMCSA records. Your Certificate of Enrollment is generated the same day.
Real people, Monday to Friday 6 AM to 5 PM Arizona.
Call or text (602) 899-1606 and reach the team that runs your program, not a call center. The member portal stays open around the clock.
What carriers ask before switching
Don't see yours? Call or text (602) 899-1606.
Hours: Mon–Fri 6 AM – 5 PM AZ
[email protected]
Does American Drug Testing Consortium (ADTC) include driver qualification file software with its random program?
Not that we could find. ADTC's site describes a drug and alcohol testing consortium: random selections, testing, an in-house MRO, audit support and training courses. We found no driver qualification file software or driver-file service on drugtestingconsortium.com (homepage, How it Works, About, FMCSA and C/TPA pages, and its page sitemap, checked October 14, 2026). Vertical Identity includes DQF Pro, its driver qualification file system, in the $85/year membership, and you order drug tests, MVRs, PSP and CDLIS reports, and criminal background checks from the same portal at published prices.
Is Vertical Identity a real consortium, or a reseller?
Vertical Identity is a Consortium / Third-Party Administrator (C/TPA) registered with the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. We hold our own accounts with SAMHSA-certified laboratories and a nationwide network of more than 20,000 DOT collection sites, and our members order through our portal at the $69 member rate. Nothing is resold through a middle layer.
Does Vertical Identity offer a do-it-yourself Clearinghouse path?
Yes. As a member, we're your C/TPA in the Clearinghouse at no charge: you register on the FMCSA Clearinghouse portal yourself and designate us, using our instructions. If you'd rather have help, the paid Clearinghouse Enrollment Setup ($199) is white-glove: we do it with you on a shared screen, because the login.gov sign-in has to happen with you present. Queries are ordered per driver at $12 each (our fee); the FMCSA query credit is separate and is bought in your own Clearinghouse account.
How do I switch from ADTC to Vertical Identity?
Enroll at members.verticalidentity.com/enroll from your DOT number; it takes about five minutes and your Certificate of Enrollment is generated the same day. Then tell ADTC in writing the date your program with them ends. Do not leave a gap: a carrier must be in a random pool every day it operates (49 CFR § 382.305).
ADTC is $60 a year and Vertical Identity is $85. Why pay more?
On the membership fee alone, ADTC is $25 less, and on a typical solo testing year it stays lower even though our tests are $6 less each. What the $85 a year buys beyond the pool is the difference: DQF Pro driver files are included, we're your C/TPA in the Clearinghouse at no charge, your written D&A policy is included, and one portal holds MVRs, PSP reports, criminal background checks, DOT physicals, Clearinghouse queries, and supervisor training, each at a published price. ADTC's site does not mention most of those services.
Can I enroll with ADTC online?
Not that we could find. On drugtestingconsortium.com the "Apply Now" buttons link to their contact page, and their FMCSA landing page's form asks for a name, email, company and phone so they can schedule a consultation; the site says to call for immediate enrollment (checked October 14, 2026). Vertical Identity enrollment is self-serve: enter your DOT number, we pull your carrier record from FMCSA, you pay, and the Certificate of Enrollment is generated the same day.
Does ADTC handle the FMCSA Clearinghouse?
Their FMCSA pages mention "FMCSA clearinghouse reporting," but no registration help, C/TPA designation, or query price is published on the pages we reviewed (checked October 14, 2026). Every carrier with CDL drivers must register in the Clearinghouse, run a full query before a driver starts, and a limited query on every driver each year (49 CFR § 382.701). Vertical Identity is your C/TPA in the Clearinghouse at no charge, runs each query for $12 per driver (our fee; the FMCSA credit is separate), and offers the white-glove Clearinghouse Enrollment Setup ($199) if you want the registration done with you on a shared screen.
Switch to Vertical Identity in 5 minutes.
Enroll online from your DOT number tonight, get your Certificate of Enrollment the same day, and keep the whole compliance year, driver files included, in one portal at published prices. $85 a year.