FMCSA to Maintain the Current Carrier Drug Testing Rate at 25% for 2017
The agency in 2016 lowered the minimum annual drug testing rate to 25% from 50% the prior year in response to improved positive drug test rates for truck and bus drivers.
FMCSA requires motor carriers to randomly test their pool of drivers for drugs and alcohol at the nationally prescribed percentage rate.
Federal regulations require that if for two consecutive calendar years the positive rate as estimated by a Management Information System data survey for controlled substances is less than 1%, the agency has the discretion to lower the annual testing rate to a minimum of 25% of a carriers’ driver positions.
If the positive test rate is higher than 1%, the testing rate will automatically revert to 50%, the agency said.
FMCSA said the 2014 survey estimated the rate of drug usage at 0.9%. In 2012, the usage rate for drugs was 0.6% and in 2013 was 0.7%. Violation rates for blood alcohol content was 0.08% in 2014, 0.03% in 2012 and 0.09% in 2013.
“We will continue to monitor the data closely, and should the positive rate for drug use rise above the 1% threshold in the upcoming 2015 survey, the national random testing rate requirement will be immediately increased to 50%,” FMCSA Administrator Scott Darling said in a statement.
