Motor carriers whose drivers are required to have CDLs must have a drug and alcohol testing program.
Motor carriers operating vehicles requiring a CDL must test drivers and other safety-sensitive employees for illegal substances and alcohol levels at various points of employment:
- Before they are hired (pre-employment screening)
- After an accident
- When there is reasonable suspicion
- At return to duty after a controlled substances or alcohol violation
- Through a random testing process if the carrier has two or more drivers
If the carrier has two or more drivers, a random testing process must be used.
Employers are required to keep detailed records of their alcohol misuse prevention programs and store them in a secured location for the amount of time defined in FMCSR Section 382.401, Records Retention. Motor carriers may self-administer their programs (if they are not owner-operators) or contract it out, such as to a consortium that provides drug-testing services to many carriers. Owner-operators cannot self-administer their programs, and must enroll in a consortium. Guidance for setting up a program for non-owner-operator carriers can be found in FMCSA's Overview of Drug and Alcohol Rules.
For the purposes of a Safety Audit, the motor carrier is required to provide documentation showing that pre-employment tests are administered, that the carrier has a random testing procedure that aligns with the regulations (either entered into with a consortium or conducted by the carrier), and a list of all of the drivers entered into the random testing program. Explanations and examples of each document can be found to the right of this page.
Exceptions
- Motor carriers that do not operate vehicles requiring a CDL
- Motor carriers subject to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) alcohol and controlled substance testing program
- Employers and drivers that include: active duty military personnel; members of the reserves; members of the national guard on active duty (including personnel on full-time national guard duty, part-time national guard training, and national guard military technicians), and active duty U.S. Coast Guard personnel
- Farm vehicle drivers when the vehicle is:
- Controlled and operated by a farmer as a private motor carrier of property
- Being used to transport agricultural products or farm machinery and/or supplies to or from a farm
- Not being used in the operation of a for-hire carrier
- Not carrying placardable HM
- Being used within 150 air miles of the farm
- Firefighters or other persons who operate commercial motor vehicles that are necessary for the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions, are equipped with audible and visual signals, and are not subject to normal traffic regulations