FMCSA Sends Out Warning on Drug And Alcohol Testing

FMCSA Sends Out Warning: In recent months, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it has received “numerous inquiries regarding companies using aggressive marketing tactics to sell supervisor training to employers who may be subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug and alcohol testing requirements. Please note that the FMCSA is not familiar with these companies or the training they are offering.”[/box]

FMSCA doesn’t certify trainers or pre-approve curriculum regarding drug testing. It’s up to the carriers to meet the guidelines. 49 CFR 382.603 requires supervisors of CDL drivers to take 60 minutes of training on the symptoms of alcohol abuse and another 60 minutes of training on the symptoms of controlled substances use. The purpose is to qualify supervisors for determining when reasonable suspicion testing is needed.[/box]

[box type=”shadow”]
The FMCSA noted that it “does not certify trainers or training companies, nor does it pre-approve the curriculum presented. Employers are responsible for meeting the training requirement of 49 CFR 382.603 — including ensuring that any training company/entity that they purchase training from provides training in the physical, behavioral, speech, and performance indicators of probable alcohol misuse and use of controlled substances. “It is up to the employer to select which training to attend, keeping in mind the aforementioned guidelines.”[/box]