Vertical Identity vs Consortium Pool: we publish a price for every service. They publish three.
Consortium Pool's enrollment fee is lower than ours: $65.95 for one driver against our $85. That is the whole of what they publish, plus a $75 pre-employment test and a $165 enrollment-and-testing bundle. Clearinghouse queries, MVRs, PSP reports, background checks, and supervisor training all exist on their site, but every one of them is priced by phone or bundled into Driver Qualification File software with no published price. Vertical Identity publishes all eleven, live, from one price feed.
/prices feed; MVR member rates from the per-state catalog at /prices/mvr-catalog; supervisor training from our training page. Consortium Pool pricing read from consortiumpool.com/programs (the $65.95 and $165 tiers, add-on driver and pre-employment test prices) and consortiumpool.com/driver-qualification-file-management on 2026-09-05. Competitor pricing changes without notice; verify on their site when you evaluate. Consortium Pool and New Era Drug Testing are the same company (New Era Drug Testing LLC d/b/a ConsortiumPool, per their terms of use); the same programs and prices appear on neweradrugtesting.com/dot-programs.Five services you cannot price without calling
Clearinghouse queries
Offered only "when you purchase our Driver Qualification File Management software and services" (consortiumpool.com/programs). No query price published.
MVR, PSP and background checks
Listed as features of their DQ File Management system (consortiumpool.com/driver-qualification-file-management). No per-report price and no a-la-carte ordering surfaced.
DOT physical
Their DQF system tracks "Medical Exam Status." We found no physical-exam ordering or price on consortiumpool.com.
Supervisor training
A training-courses program is listed on consortiumpool.com/programs with no price shown.
Random tests after the first
The $165 bundle includes one "FREE Annual Random Test." The only per-test price published is $75 for pre-employment. We found no published price for additional random tests.
Compliance is eleven line items, not one enrollment fee. If you cannot see the price, you cannot budget the year.
What does Vertical Identity publish that Consortium Pool makes you call for?
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 and $25 for each additional driver, or $295 flat for fleets of ten or more, with DOT drug tests at $69, breath alcohol tests at $59, Clearinghouse queries at $12 per driver per year, and supervisor training at $55 a seat.
Consortium Pool publishes three prices: $65.95 enrollment for one driver, $15 for each additional driver, and $75 for a pre-employment drug test, plus a $165 bundle that adds one pre-employment and one random test. Its Clearinghouse queries, MVR and PSP reports, background checks, and supervisor training are described on the site but sold inside Driver Qualification File software or by phone, with no published price. Vertical Identity prices all eleven driver-compliance services publicly in one member portal, so a carrier can total the whole year before enrolling.
Where both publish a price, here they are. Where only one does, we say so.
Every cell below was read from a public product page on 2026-09-05: consortiumpool.com/programs · consortiumpool.com/driver-qualification-file-management · neweradrugtesting.com/dot-programs for Consortium Pool, and the live /prices feed for Vertical Identity. Where Consortium Pool is cheaper, the row says so.
| Service | Vertical Identity | Consortium Pool | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consortium enrollment, first driver | $85/yr | $65.95/yr, enrollment only (no tests) | Consortium Pool is $19.05 lower on the entry fee |
| Additional driver | $25/yr | $15 each (enrollment tier) or $125 each (enrollment & testing tier) | Consortium Pool lower on enrollment-only; Vertical Identity lower once a test is included |
| Fleet plan | $295/yr flat, 10+ drivers | No flat plan published; $65.95 + $15 per additional driver | Depends on fleet size, see year-1 math below |
| DOT drug test | $69 member rate, every test type | $75 pre-employment. No other per-test price published. | $6 less per test at Vertical Identity |
| Breath alcohol test (BAT) | $59 | Not published on consortiumpool.com | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| Return-to-duty / follow-up test (observed) | $99 | Not published | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| Clearinghouse setup, DIY | $0, C/TPA designation included | "Our dedicated Clearinghouse team can guide you" (consortiumpool.com). No price or tier published. | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| Clearinghouse setup, Premium (scheduled call) | $199 | Not published | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| Clearinghouse query (pre-employment full + annual limited) | $12/driver/yr | Only with their DQF software purchase; price not published | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| Supervisor / DER training | $55/seat | Training courses listed; price not published | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| MVR (driving record) | member rate from $14.25 by state | Inside DQF software; price not published | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| PSP report | $20 | Inside DQF software; price not published | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| Criminal background check (FCRA) | $39 | Inside DQF software; price not published | Vertical Identity publishes; Consortium Pool does not |
| DOT physical ordering | $129 | Not sold; DQF tracks "Medical Exam Status" | Vertical Identity only |
| Written D&A policy | Included with membership (+ DOT guidebook); completed company-specific version $39 | Included in both tiers | Both include |
| Collection sites | 20,000+ nationwide | "Access To 12K Collection Sites" | 8,000+ more at Vertical Identity |
| Enrollment | Online, about 5 minutes, same-day Certificate | Online ("Enroll Now"), Certificate of Completion | Both online |
| Live support hours | Mon–Fri 6 AM–5 PM AZ, call or text; portal 24/7 | Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM PST (neweradrugtesting.com) |
Solo driver: $290 at Vertical Identity, every line priced. Consortium Pool: $165 to $215.95 plus two lines they don't price.
The same year-one scenario we use on every comparison page: a single-driver carrier enrolls, registers with the Clearinghouse and runs the queries, 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). Consortium Pool has two ways to buy it, so both are shown; the lines it does not price are labeled, not estimated.
| Line item | Vertical Identity | Consortium Pool, $65.95 tier | Consortium Pool, $165 bundle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consortium enrollment (year 1) | $85 | $65.95 | $165 (includes 1 pre-employment + 1 random test) |
| Clearinghouse setup + queries | $0 DIY + $12 queries | Not published | Not published |
| Supervisor / DER training (1 seat) | $55 | Not published | Not published |
| Pre-employment test + one random draw | $138 ($69 × 2) | $150 ($75 × 2, at the only per-test price published) | Included |
| Published total | $290, every line priced | $215.95 + 2 unpriced lines | $165 + 2 unpriced lines |
Consortium Pool touches more of the driver lifecycle than most consortiums, and on the lines it prices it is the lower bill for a solo driver. But a buyer can only price the enrollment, the pre-employment test, and the policy that comes with it. Vertical Identity publishes all eleven and lets you order each one separately, so the $290 above is the whole bill.
Everything a compliance program should do, done in one place.
Every price is published, live.
Every Vertical Identity price on this page comes from our live price feed, the per-state MVR catalog, or our training page. $85/yr for the first driver, $25 each additional, $295 flat for fleets of 10 or more, $69 per DOT drug test at the member rate. No quote call, no "contact us for pricing".
All 11 driver-compliance services in one portal.
Random pool, Clearinghouse setup and queries, MVR, PSP, background check, DOT physical ordering, supervisor training, written policy, plus Post-SAP follow-up management. One login, one invoice.
Enroll in about five minutes, online, from your DOT number.
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.
Order tests 24/7 and send the driver a pre-paid Passport.
Pick the test type in the member portal and the driver gets a pre-paid electronic Passport listing the three closest collection sites. They walk into any of 20,000+ DOT collection sites nationwide, no appointment.
A Medical Review Officer on every test.
Results are MRO-verified and route to your member account. Violations are handled the way the Clearinghouse rules require of your C/TPA.
Live human support, 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 portal stays open around the clock.
Clearinghouse handled two ways.
Designate Vertical Identity as your C/TPA at no charge and register yourself on the FMCSA portal, or take the $199 Premium setup and we walk the registration with you on a scheduled call. Queries are $12 per driver per year.
Your written policy is included.
Membership includes a written Drug & Alcohol policy and DOT guidebook, the § 382.601 paperwork an auditor asks for first. Want it completed with your company name, DER, and effective date filled in and emailed as a PDF? That version is $39.
Hiring and keeping a CDL driver takes 11 federally-mandated steps. Vertical Identity covers all 11 at published prices.
Each step below shows the regulation that creates it, what Consortium Pool publishes for it, and where Vertical Identity delivers it in the same portal.
- Pre-employment DOT drug test 49 CFR § 382.301(a)Consortium Pool: Yes, $75
Required negative result before any CDL driver performs a safety-sensitive function. SAMHSA-certified lab, MRO review. → Vertical Identity DOT Pre-Employment Drug Testing — $69 member rate - Clearinghouse pre-employment full query 49 CFR § 382.701(a)Consortium Pool: Only with DQF software, unpriced
Full query of the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse for prior violations, with the driver's electronic consent in the Clearinghouse. No driver may begin safety-sensitive work without it. → Vertical Identity Clearinghouse Query — $12/driver/yr (pre-employment full + annual limited) - Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check 49 CFR § 391.23(a)(1) + § 391.25Consortium Pool: Inside DQF, unpriced
State driving-record review at hire and annually thereafter, for every state that issued the driver a license in the prior three years. → Vertical Identity MVR Ordering — member rate from $14.25 by state, all 50 states - PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) report 49 U.S.C. § 31150 · FMCSA programConsortium Pool: Inside DQF, unpriced
The driver's crash and inspection history from FMCSA's Motor Carrier Management Information System. Not mandatory, but standard practice for a defensible hire. → Vertical Identity PSP Reports — $20 - DOT physical examination 49 CFR § 391.41 + § 391.43Consortium Pool: Tracking only
Medical certificate from a certified medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry, required before driving and renewed at least every two years. → Vertical Identity DOT Physical ordering — $129 nationwide partner network - Criminal background check (FCRA-compliant) FCRA, 15 U.S.C. § 1681bConsortium Pool: Inside DQF, unpriced
Multi-jurisdiction criminal search under Fair Credit Reporting Act consent rules. Expected by most carrier insurance underwriters. → Vertical Identity Background Checks — $39 - Random drug and alcohol testing pool 49 CFR § 382.305Consortium Pool: Yes, in enrollment
FMCSA minimum annual rates of 50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol, scientifically random selections spread through the year. Pool placement is the consortium's core job. → Vertical Identity Random Testing Program — included in $85/yr membership - Annual Clearinghouse limited query 49 CFR § 382.701(b)Consortium Pool: Only with DQF software, unpriced
Every employer must run a limited query on every employed CDL driver at least once a year, on the driver's general consent. → Vertical Identity Clearinghouse Services — $12/driver/yr covers the annual limited query - Annual MVR refresh 49 CFR § 391.25(a)Consortium Pool: Inside DQF, unpriced
An updated MVR for every driver at least once every 12 months, reviewed for safety-impacting violations. → Vertical Identity MVR annual renewal — member rate by state - Written drug and alcohol policy on file 49 CFR § 382.601Consortium Pool: Yes, included
Every DOT-regulated employer must give each driver written policy materials and keep them on file for FMCSA inspection. → Vertical Identity membership includes your written D&A policy + DOT guidebook - Supervisor / DER reasonable-suspicion training 49 CFR § 382.603Consortium Pool: Listed, unpriced
At least 60 minutes on alcohol misuse plus 60 minutes on controlled-substance use for every supervisor of a CDL driver, including an owner-operator acting as their own DER. → Vertical Identity Supervisor / DER Training — $55 per seat
Vertical Identity delivers all 11 at published prices. Consortium Pool publishes a price for 3.
Enroll with Vertical Identity in 5 minutes →What carriers ask before switching
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. Membership includes designating Vertical Identity as your C/TPA at no extra cost. You register yourself on the FMCSA Clearinghouse portal (about ten minutes) and designate us. If you would rather have help, the $199 Premium setup walks the registration with you on a scheduled virtual meeting, because login.gov authentication has to happen with you present. Pre-employment full queries and annual limited queries are $12 per driver per year.
How do I switch from Consortium Pool 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 Consortium Pool 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), and your drivers' prior pre-employment results do not need to be repeated when you change C/TPAs.
Is Consortium Pool the same company as New Era Drug Testing?
Yes. Their terms of use identify the operator as New Era Drug Testing LLC d/b/a ConsortiumPool, and neweradrugtesting.com/dot-programs shows the same $65.95 and $165 tiers with the same add-on prices. If you are comparing both brands you are comparing one program.
Consortium Pool's enrollment is $65.95 and yours is $85. Why pay more?
For enrollment alone, theirs is $19.05 less. The difference is what comes next. Vertical Identity's $85 includes your C/TPA designation for the Clearinghouse, your written D&A policy, and access to every other service at a published price: $69 tests, $12 queries, $55 training, MVRs from $14.25, $20 PSP reports, $39 background checks. Consortium Pool's Clearinghouse queries, MVRs, PSP, background checks, and training are sold inside Driver Qualification File software or by phone with no published price, so the $19.05 saving is the only number you can actually compare.
Does Consortium Pool's $165 bundle beat Vertical Identity on drug tests?
On tests alone, yes. The $165 enrollment-and-testing tier includes one pre-employment and one random test for one driver, which is a typical solo year; the same year at Vertical Identity is $235 including the $12 Clearinghouse queries. A second driver in that tier is $125 ($25 here), and a supervisor seat, a Clearinghouse query on its own, or an MVR are lines we price and they do not.
Switch to Vertical Identity in 5 minutes.
Enroll online from your DOT number, get your Certificate of Enrollment the same day, and price the entire year before you pay for it. $85 a year, every other service at a published rate.