DOT Drug & Alcohol Program Checkup
Find the next steps in your drug and alcohol testing program. Review enrollment, Clearinghouse queries, testing procedures and records, then build a practical plan with helpful resources.
Build a useful program follow-up plan
Answer five short groups of questions. Choose “I need to confirm” when a record or process has not been verified. You can save a draft on your own device and return to it.
A practical review for fleets and owner-operators
Use this checkup when taking over a safety program, adding a driver, changing testing providers or checking whether your current process is documented. It separates missing controls from details that need verification, without turning a questionnaire into a compliance certificate.
Have your driver roster, policy, enrollment confirmation, query log and training records nearby. Each open item points first to a useful MSM resource, followed by the applicable official reference.
Keep the Drug & Alcohol Program Checklist, Policy Receipt and Random Testing Notification Record with your working file. For a particular crash, use the separate Post-Accident Testing Tool.
Practical guidance and official references
Start with MSM’s drug and alcohol program guide. Verify program coverage in 49 CFR 382.103, random testing in 49 CFR 382.305, and query requirements in 49 CFR 382.701. Check the official DOT annual-rate table for the applicable year.
Need help putting the findings into practice? Explore My Safety Manager support or the Owner-Operator Compliance Program.
Guidance reviewed November 2, 2026. The checkup focuses on federal FMCSA program requirements; confirm applicability and current requirements for your operation.
Common questions
Who should use this DOT program checkup?
Safety managers, motor carriers, single-driver employers and owner-operators reviewing an FMCSA-regulated drug and alcohol program. The questions adjust for independent and leased owner-operators and whether anyone supervises other covered drivers.
Does every commercial driver need a Part 382 program?
Coverage depends on the vehicle and operation, including whether the vehicle requires a CDL and whether a specific exception or another agency’s testing rules apply. Holding a CDL alone is not enough to decide coverage. The checkup routes uncertain coverage to an applicability review.
What are the 2026 FMCSA random-testing rates?
The minimum annual rates for 2026 are 50% for controlled substances and 10% for alcohol. They apply to the covered pool calculation; they are not quarterly quotas or a requirement to test every individual at those percentages. Confirm the applicable year’s rates with your provider and the official DOT table.
Does joining a consortium complete Clearinghouse setup?
No. Random-pool enrollment and Clearinghouse duties are separate. An owner-operator subject to the designation requirement must designate a C/TPA inside the Clearinghouse. Required queries, consents and reporting still need to be managed.
Does a solo owner-operator need supervisor training?
A solo owner-operator who does not supervise other covered drivers is not required to complete the supervisor training. People designated to supervise covered drivers need at least 60 minutes on alcohol misuse and another 60 minutes on controlled substance use.
What will my results include?
An action plan based on your answers, practical MSM articles and forms, official references, records to locate, and a printable worksheet with responsibility, target-date and notes space. It does not verify documents, certify compliance or authorize a driver to work.
Are my answers sent to MSM?
This tool does not submit your entries. Optional draft saving stores the answers in this browser on this device. Use a private device and keep any printed or saved report under your control. Do not enter driver names or test results.