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RMU Home » Programs » Occupational Health Screenings » Drug and Alcohol Screening for Driving Classifications

• Drug and Alcohol Screening for Driving Classifications
• Overview
• Resources For Supervisors
• Frequently Asked Questions

Drug and Alcohol Screening for Driving Classifications

The Omnibus Transportation Employees Testing Act of 1991 requires drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive transportation employees in aviation, trucking, railroads, mass transit, pipelines and other transportation industries. The Department of Transportation (DOT) publishes rules on who must conduct drug and alcohol tests, how to conduct those tests, and what procedures to use when testing. These regulations cover all transportation employers, safety-sensitive transportation employees, and service agents (roughly 100 million people).

Alcohol and Drug Rules

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) require alcohol and drug testing of drivers, who are required to have a California Driver’s License (CDL). The DOT rules include procedures for urine drug testing and breathe alcohol testing.

Who is affected by these rules?

The FMCSA rules apply to safety-sensitive employees, who operate commercial motor vehicles requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Examples of drivers and employers subject to these rules are:

• Anyone who owns or leases commercial motor vehicles
• Anyone who assigns drivers to operate commercial motor vehicles
• Federal, state and local governments
• For-hire motor carriers
• Private motor carriers

Within Alameda County, these rules apply to positions in the Sheriff’s Office, Community Development Agency, County Library, General Services Agency, and the Public Works Agency.

Additional Resources

• The full regulation is available at the FMSCA website.
• Resources for Supervisors : Overview of testing of Alameda County employees and resources for supervisors.
• Frequently asked questions