Random drug test rate reduced
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that it is reducing the random drug-testing rate for commercial motor vehicle drivers to 25%, effective January 1, 2016.
The minimum annual percentage rate for controlled substances testing had held at 50 percent of the average number of driver positions since the inception of the Part 382 drug and alcohol testing requirements in 1995. The final rule is titled “Controlled Substances and Alcohol Use and Testing”.
The FMCSA Administrator’s decision to decrease the minimum annual random testing percentage rate is based on the reported positive random test rate for the entire motor carrier industry.
Based on the controlled substances random test data in FMCSA’s Management Information System (MIS) for calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013, the positive rate for controlled substances random testing fell below the 1.0 percent threshold for 3 consecutive calendar years. As a result, FMCSA lowered the controlled substances minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing to 25 percent of the average number of driver positions.
The change will result in an estimated $50 million dollars in annual savings to motor carriers by requiring fewer drivers to be tested.
The minimum annual percentage rate for random alcohol testing will remain at 10 percent for calendar year 2016.
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JC 2/5/16