The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it is increasing the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) from the current rate of 25 percent of the average number of driver positions to 50 percent of the average number of driver positions, effective in calendar year 2020.
The FMCSA administrator must increase the minimum annual random testing percentage rate when the data received under the reporting requirements for any calendar year indicate that the reported positive rate is equal to or greater than 1 percent.
Based on the results of the 2018 FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Survey, the positive rate for controlled substances random testing increased to 1 percent. Therefore, the agency will increase the controlled substances minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing to 50 percent of the average number of driver positions. The estimated positive usage rate for drugs was 0.8 percent in 2017 and 0.7 percent in 2016.
“This change reflects the increased positive test rate and will result in an estimated $50 million to $70 million increase in costs to the industry by requiring that more drivers be tested,” the Federal Register document states.
The minimum annual percentage rate for random alcohol testing will remain at 10 percent.
Click here to read the Federal Register document.