Who is required to enroll
Every employer of CDL drivers performing safety-sensitive functions in interstate or intrastate commerce must have a compliant testing program, including:
- Motor carriers with one or more CDL drivers
- Owner-operators, who register as both employer and employee
- Any company where a driver operates a CMV requiring a CDL
Current testing rates
For 2026, FMCSA's minimum random drug testing rate is 50% of the average number of driver positions annually, and the minimum random alcohol testing rate is 10%. These rates are set annually based on industry-wide violation data, so they can change year to year — a consortium is responsible for tracking the current rate and selecting drivers accordingly.
Before any new CDL driver performs a safety-sensitive function for the first time, the employer must conduct a pre-employment drug test and a full query of the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse — these are two separate, concurrent requirements, not one filing that covers both.
How enrollment works
- You're enrolled in a random selection pool that meets or exceeds FMCSA's current minimum testing rates.
- Selections are made using a scientifically valid method, giving every driver in the pool an equal chance each period — no advance notice is given to a selected driver.
- Results and any violations are reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse as required, within the applicable reporting window.