FMCSA Random Drug Test Rate Increased to 50% Beginning January 1, 2020

The FMCSA just announced that effective January 1, 2020, the random drug testing rate for controlled substances for commercial drivers will increase.

The random drug testing rate is increasing from 25% to 50% for all driver positions.

If you are FMCSA regulated and have drivers in a Random Testing pool for cross-border driving, this will affect you. This effectively doubles the rate at which your drivers will need to be tested for controlled substances throughout 2020.

In compliance with the DOT regulations, the FMCSA must increase the minimum annual random testing rate for controlled substances when they receive reports indicating that the positive rate is equal to or greater than 1%.

Based on the results of the 2018 FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Survey, the positive rate for random testing of controlled substances met this 1% threshold.

Therefore, the FMCSA will increase the minimum annual percentage rate for random testing of controlled substances to 50% of the average number of driver positions beginning January 1, 2020.

Please note that the alcohol testing rate is unchanged and remains at 10% for all driver positions.

If you have any questions, please contact our Client Support Group at 1 (800) 463-4310, option 6, or ClientSupport@DriverCheck.ca.

Sincerely,

DriverCheck Team