NATIONAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING PROGRAM
Introduction
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations went into effect on January 1, 1995, for all vehicles (vans and
buses) designed to carry 16 or more passengers. These regulations applied to churches and schools and
included requirements of U.S. DOT numbers on all “covered vehicles” and commercial driver’s licenses (CDL)
for the drivers of these vehicles. The regulations also required compliance with new drug and alcohol testing
requirements by January 1, 1996. These new testing requirements apply to all of your CDL drivers including
those who drive only within your state. They also apply equally to paid CDL employees and volunteers.
The National Drug and Alcohol Testing Program has been developed for churches, Christian schools,
private schools, colleges, universities, vocational schools, kindergartens, day care facilities, and other religious,
charitable, and educational organizations. This program provides the means to meet all the federal drug and
alcohol testing regulations that apply. All the participants of the program will be placed in a single pool for
purposes of random selection for drug and alcohol testing.
Drug Testing Requirements
Under the regulations, the types of drug tests that are required are: Pre-employment, Post-accident,
Reasonable suspicion, Random, and Return-to-duty & follow-up. In most instances, your testing program
will only need to include Pre-employment, Post-accident, and Random drug testing. Random drug testing
does not have to be conducted in immediate time proximity to performing driving functions. The number of
random drug tests conducted each year must total at least 50% of the drivers. Each organization can join a
consortium or “pool.” When you join a consortium, all of your drivers are put in a “pool” of which 50% will be
selected for testing on a random basis.
According to the law, each organization is responsible for implementing a drug testing program. Each
person selected for the test will be required to provide a urine specimen for analysis. The test will be performed
at a certified lab, with the results verified by a medical review officer (MRO). Therefore, it will be necessary to
work with a physician, private service, or lab collection site to comply with the requirements. Testing is done in
such a way to ensure that over-the-counter drugs or prescribed medications are not reported as positive
results. The results of the tests are confidential and may be released only to the organization, the drug testing
laboratory, and the MRO. The person tested must give consent for any other distribution of the test results.
The regulations require that each organization must provide regular information to their drivers on drug abuse,
and each driver must attend at least 1 hour of training on the signs and symptoms of drug abuse. This
program will help you satisfy all of your drug testing requirements.
Alcohol Testing Requirements
The regulations require the same types of alcohol tests that are required for drug testing. However, it is likely
that your organization will primarily be concerned with Post-accident and Random alcohol testing. Drivers
who began working for you after January 1, 1996, may submit to a “pre-employment” alcohol test if dictated by
the employer. Drivers who began working for you before January 1, 1996, are not required to go back and
take a “pre-employment” alcohol test.
Random alcohol tests must be conducted “just before, during, or after performance of” any driving duties.
The number of random tests required each year must total at least 25% of the CDL drivers. Each organization
can join a consortium or “pool.” When joining a consortium, all of your CDL drivers are put in a “pool” of which
25% will be selected for testing on a random basis. This program will help you satisfy all of your alcohol
testing requirements.
