Why is Consortium Enrollment Important?

For new owner operators, within 12 months of starting operations, you will undergo a DOT FMCSA security audit, commonly known as the New Entrant Exam. 

Audits and compliance reviews include verification of your DOT FMCSA drug and alcohol testing program. New entrants (new owner-operators) will automatically fail security audits related to the following violations:



Owner-operator not participating in random drug and alcohol testing consortium program
No alcohol and/or drug testing program
No random alcohol and/or drug testing program
Use a driver who refuses to take the required alcohol or drug test
Using a driver with a blood alcohol level known to the company of 0.04 or higher
Use drivers who fail to complete required follow-up procedures after testing positive for drugs
For owner-operators, two important steps must be taken to comply with DOT FMCSA regulations on drug and alcohol testing:

Must have completed a negative pre-employment drug test prior to operating a DOT-covered commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
You must join a random test league. Owner-operators are not allowed to self-administer random testing.


Trucking companies, bus companies, rental carriers and private fleets
Both independent random testing pools and joint random testing pools are available for trucking companies, bus companies, rental carriers and private fleets. Typically, companies with more than 20 drivers choose to have an independent random drug testing program. Compliance is more complicated for companies with multiple drivers. U.S. Drug Testing Centers can simplify the process and help your company develop a program that will keep you DOT compliant and out of trouble to avoid fines and penalties.

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