Drug & Alcohol Testing

Every CDL driver must be in an organized and approved drug and alcohol testing program if he/she is:

  1. operating a commercial motor vehicle over 26,000 pounds (interstate or intrastate);
  2. hauling hazmat; or
  3. operating a vehicle designed for 16 or more passengers.

The program must also randomly test drivers.

Mid-West Truckers Drug and Alcohol Consortium provides the following services to enrolled companies:

Required Drug & Alcohol Tests 

Commercial Motor Vehicle drivers are subject to the following drug & alcohol tests:

  • Pre-employment
  • Post-accident
  • Random
  • Reasonable Suspicion
  • Return to Duty
  • Follow Up


Pre-Employment Testing

Employers may not allow a driver to drive a CMV unless the employer has received a negative controlled substances test result from a Medical Review Officer or Consortium/Third Party Administrator.

Drivers may be exempt from pre-employment testing if:

  1. the driver has participated in an approved controlled substances testing program within the previous 30 days and
    1. was tested within the last 6 months as part of the approved program, or
    2. participated in an approved program for the last 12 months, and   
    3. the new employer ensures no prior employer of the driver has records of a controlled substances rule violation within the previous 6 months.


For additional information on Pre-employment Testing, see 49 CFR part 40, section 382.301.

Post-accident Testing

An Employer must test any CMV driver involved in an accident when:

  1. a fatality occurs;
  2. any person requires immediate medical attention away from the scene and the driver receives a ticket; or
  3. any vehicle is towed away and the driver receives a ticket.


For additional information on Post-Accident Testing, see 49 CFR part 40, section 382.303.

Random Testing

Employers must ensure that every CMV driver submit to random alcohol and controlled substance testing at established minimum annual percentage rates.
The selection of drivers for random testing must be made by a scientifically valid method, such as a random number table or a computer-based random number generator that is matched with a driver identifying number.
Every driver has an equal chance of being selected every time a selection is made.

For additional information on Random Testing, see 49 CFR part 40, section 382.305.

TO HAVE AN APPROVED PROGRAM... YOU MUST:

  • Develop and adopt a drug and alcohol policy for your company.
  • Provide copies of that drug and alcohol policy to all your drivers, secure and maintain certification that they have received copies before any test can be done. Failure to do this is a violation of the drivers' civil rights.
  • Select an approved drug test laboratory (only a limited number in the entire U.S.).
  • Use only properly trained "Breath Alcohol Technician" for any alcohol tests.
  • All breath tests shall be on a "Evidential Breath Testing" device that is on an approved list.
  • Develop all necessary forms to meet federal and state standards to precise chain of custody.
  • Engage a qualified person to collect urine specimens. They must collect the specimens according to a precise procedure and to federal chain of custody requirements.
  • Locate a qualified courier service.
  • Select a qualified medical review officer (must be medical doctor with special drug training).
  • Develop annual review forms and procedures.
  • Purchase and approve blind specimens as required by law.
  • Insure that all of the above meet federal and state standards, as well as rules of evidence in court, to protect you from potential liability and financial loss. If you use improper collectors of labs, they are not at fault, you are!
  • All owner/operators operating under your motor carrier name must be in your program or they cannot drive for you.

DO YOU NEED ALL OF THIS EXTRA WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY?

  • Could you use an organization to take care of you nationwide, including Canada and Alaska?
  • If you have a Drug & Alcohol testing program now make sure that your provider can take care of your Drug and Alcohol testing needs with Department of Transportation compliance if an accident happens 5 states from home in the middle of the night, within 8 hours.
  • Also see if they are doing the blind samples for you, if required.


Join Mid-West Truckers Association to enroll today!

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