FMCSA Pre-Employment Testing Exemption

Dear Valued Client, 

We wanted to inform you that the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is granting a waiver on certain pre-employment tests where a driver had to be laid-off or furloughed due to the pandemic.
 
Effective June 5, 2020 to September 30, 2020 those FMCSA drivers who were in a regulated random pool but were laid off or furloughed now have 90 days to qualify for the pre-employment testing exception under 49 CFR 382.301(b) of the regulations. 
 
The FMCSA has determined that allowing employers to forego pre-employment testing for drivers who were in a testing program within the previous 90 days will provide relief from the administrative burdens and costs associated with administering tests and allow them to return drivers to the workforce in a more efficient manner, thus promoting job creation and economic growth.
 
This waiver extends, from 30 days to 90 days, the period under which drivers would qualify for the pre-employment testing exception under 49 CFR 382.301(b) of the regulations. This waiver allows employers to forego pre-employment testing for drivers who have participated in a controlled substances testing program that meets the requirements of 49 CFR part 382 within the previous 90 days of hire or rehire.
 
*Please note, this waiver does not affect the Clearinghouse. Employers must comply with the Clearinghouse pre-employment query requirement set forth in 49 CFR 382.701(a).
 
For more information please visit the FMCSA’s website at:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/three-month-waiver-response-economic-consequences-covid-19-public-health-emergency
 
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