Drug and Alcohol Testing: FMCSA DOT Requirements
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency within the Department of Transportation (DOT) that regulates the bus and trucking industry in the United States. Part 382 of FMCSA regulations deal with testing for controlled substances and alcohol. It is meant to prevent injuries and accidents from happening when there is drug or alcohol usage by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. Employers and drivers that hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are subject to Part 382 FMCSA regulations.
Random Drug Testing
DOT regulations mandate companies to establish random drug and alcohol testing. With so many professional drivers on the road, FMCSA has an annual rate of 10% for alcohol testing and 50% for drug testing. Employees are selected at random throughout the year using a scientifically valid method. Business owners and operators must be enrolled in a random drug testing association. An FMCSA random testing consortium helps easily manage the random testing process to comply with the FMCSA Part 382 regulations. Random alcohol testing is only performed on a driver who is on duty, either before or after driving.
Reasonable Suspicion Testing
When a company driver violates alcohol or drugs based on company regulations, the driver must submit to drug and alcohol testing if the company requires it. A company typically determines the driver needs drug and alcohol testing based on a concern of the driver’s behavior, appearance, speech, or body odors. The company official responsible for determining reasonable suspicion must be trained on drug and alcohol usage to identify reasonable suspicion. For alcohol testing, it must be performed while the driver is currently on duty, or just before or after the driver has been on duty.
Additional FMCSA Drug Testing
FMCSA also tests at these times:
Pre-employment: Before becoming an employee of a company, a CDL driver must have a negative test result.
Post-accident: If a CDL driver has an accident, the driver must be willing to submit to drug and alcohol testing immediately after the accident.
Return-to-duty: For drivers who test positive, refuse, or violate 49 CFR Part 382 Subpart B. The return-to-duty process must be completed with a DOT-qualified substance abuse professional. A driver can only resume driving responsibilities after a negative drug test.
Follow-up: For drivers who tested positive, a follow-up drug test is required after the driver completes the return-to-duty process with a DOT-qualified professional.
DATCO Services Provides DOT Drug Testing
Contact DATCO Services for all your company’s DOT drug testing! We have locations throughout the United States that provide DOT Compliance drug testing. Contact DATCO at 800-95-DATCO (32826) for additional information.
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