Federal law recognizes a simple truth that if truck drivers could predict when they would be tested for drugs or alcohol, the testing system would fail. That is why 49 CFR Part 40 and related DOT rules require truly random testing of drivers in safety-sensitive positions, including those who operate tractor-trailers on public roads. Random testing is a mandatory safety tool designed to keep impaired drivers out of 80,000-pound vehicles.
Random testing must be unpredictable. Carriers cannot tip off drivers, use biased selection methods, or schedule tests for convenience. Instead, the selection process must be scientifically valid and spread throughout the year. Each driver must have an equal chance of being chosen every time names are drawn. Importantly, being tested once does not exempt a driver from being tested again in the same year. The law is structured this way to create a constant deterrent against drug and alcohol use.
When a driver is selected, the employer must act immediately. Federal rules require that drivers report for testing as soon as they are notified. Employers cannot delay or reschedule to make life easier for the driver. A delay not only undermines the deterrent effect but can also signal that a company is willing to bend the rules—an attitude that often spills into other safety violations.
The responsibilities do not stop at selecting and testing drivers. Carriers must carefully document the random testing process, maintain testing records for years, and be able to produce them to regulators within two business days of a request. These records prove that the company is doing its part to enforce a drug- and alcohol-free workforce
When companies fail to conduct random testing properly—or skip it altogether—they expose everyone on the road to unnecessary danger. A single impaired driver behind the wheel of a semi-truck can cause catastrophic injuries or death. At Zneimer & Zneimer, our trucking personal injury lawyers investigate whether trucking companies complied with federal random testing rules. If a company ignored its duty, that failure can become powerful evidence of negligence in a trucking accident case. If you were injured in a trucking or other accident, contact our law firm for help. The consultation is free and we do not expect payment until we collect money for your injuries.