On Thursday, December 5th, 2013, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) released its revised Random Drug & Alcohol Testing Rate directives for its component agencies.
In practice, this means that employers whose operations fall under the aegis of those agencies will be required to incorporate those rates into their own regulated testing programs. The most common type of affected employer will be trucking firms; however, a wide variety of employers including railroads, airlines, and marine operators all face similar requirements, though each is governed by a separate agency. Required test rates vary, with the trucking industry (regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA) facing the highest percentage of random drug tests to be conducted at 50% of their driving employees—all other groups face a 25% rate of random test for their affected employees. Random alcohol test rates are substantially lower, 10% “across the board,” with employers regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Unites States Coast Guard (USCG) having no alcohol test rate imposed. Random tests, along with those typically required after accidents or on suspicion of abuse or impairment, form an important part of USDOT’s effort to minimize substance abuse related accidents or incidents in the transportation sector. Information about these programs can be found in the US 49 CFR Part 40. FMCSA-regulated employers can find more information about their requirements under the program at US 49 CFR 382.305, contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR).
Below is a link to the new revised rate chart:
http://www.dot.gov/odapc/random-testing-rates
Below is a link to US 49 CFR Part 40:
http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.dev/files/docs/PART40_2012.pdf
Labelmaster offers a full line of compliance products and services to the Hazardous Materials/ Transportation Industry, including routinely updated versions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which includes Section 382.305 as referenced above:
http://www.labelmaster.com/shop/books/ground-transport/federal-motor-carrier-safety-regulations
