As we get ready to ring in 2016 we wanted to let you know of a gift that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has given us. The FMCSA has decided to lower the percentage of random drug testing for a company to 25% from 50%. Over the years, the positive test rate has been less than 1% of the tests done and has consistently been this level. As a result, for calendar year 2016, the FMCSA has lowered the minimum tests for a company to 25%.

All companies that employ CDL drivers are required to have a drug and alcohol testing program that includes pre-employment, post-accident, random, reasonable suspicion, and return to duty testing. The new rule only modifies the random testing portion of the program. Most gins either test 50% of their drivers annually or are part of a consortium that tests 50% of the pool of drivers in the consortium.

Over the past several years the positive rate has been <1% of those tested in the random testing programs. As long as those number stay below 1% the FMCSA will likely maintain the lower rate but if the rate rises, there is a strong likelihood that the agency will again raise the rate to 50%.

As many gins are in consortium pools with other employers, this change will be handled by the consortia administrators but if you test your own pool of drivers, you will want to take note of this change.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

DSF