DOT Random Consortium
DOT Random Drug Testing
Trucking companies including owner operators are required to have random drug and alcohol testing. For the owner operator and the small trucking company, the random testing is performed with a consortium random testing program. Larger companies can have a stand-alone random testing program, VETC offers both for customized DOT programs for trucking companies large and small and also the owner operators. The DOT Random Consortium Program is our most popular service.
VTEC is a third party administrator (TPA) of drug and alcohol testing program. VTEC helps DOT regulated employers manage the DOT drug and alcohol testing program. VTEC services are designed to keep the employer compliant with the DOT/FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing rules and regulations.
As a TPA or sometimes called a Consortium/Third-Party Administrators (C/TPA); the VTEC team are experts and knowledgeable in regard to the DOT employer requirements and responsibilities under 49 CFR Part 40 and Part 382. Employers hire VTEC as a C/TPA to keep them safe and in regulatory compliance.
VTEC has a turnkey random consortium program and can help a trucking company or owner operator get compliant with immediate service. We know your time is valuable and can get you set up with just one phone call and/or office visit. VTEC follows the DOT’s Best Practices for DOT Random Drug and Alcohol Testing.
Random consortium and DOT drug testing services are available not just for drivers but for all of the DOT agencies:
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
- Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
- Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
- United States Coast Guard (USCG)
Each of the above agencies specifies each year the required random testing rates. Annually, the Administrator of each DOT Agency is authorized to either increase or decrease the random drug and alcohol testing rates. The random rates are annual minimum requirements.
Who Gets Tested for DOT Randoms
Regardless of job titles like supervisor, volunteer, contractor, owner operators, etc., people are chosen for testing based on their job function (known as a safety-sensitive function) not their occupational title. Only DOT safety-sensitive employees may be part of the DOT random pool or pools. Remember your DOT testing program must always be separate and distinct from your private company or non-DOT testing program. That goes for your random testing pools, too. DOT and non-DOT random testing pools must be completely separate.
Why do I get selected for random testing more than once?
“Is the boss singling me out? I just did a random last month? Joe, never gets tested? I don’t think this thing is random at all!”
Those are not uncommon concerns among some safety-sensitive employees, and many employers have been challenged in court to demonstrate that their programs are truly random. The reality is that in a truly random selection process, a high probability exists that some employees will be selected several times while others may never be selected.
Why? Because after each selection, the employee’s name is returned to the same pool, and he or she becomes just as likely as anyone else to be selected next time.
Get DOT Compliant with VTEC
Fast and easy enrollment into our turnkey random consortium program with immediate pre-employment testing is available. We offer great DOT compliant services and best prices in Ripton, California and surrounding areas including Modesto and Stockton.
