{ "name": "DOT minimum random drug and alcohol testing rates by transportation mode", "description": "Every DOT-regulated transportation employer (aviation, transit, rail, trucking/motor carrier, pipeline) must randomly drug- and/or alcohol-test a minimum percentage of its safety-sensitive workforce each calendar year, but each modal agency sets and re-announces its own rate separately, in its own format, based on that mode's industry-wide positive test rate \u2014 and DOT's own cross-modal aggregator page (transportation.gov/odapc/random-testing-rates) is not reachable by an automated fetcher (403). No other page assembles the current year's rate across modes; an employer or safety consultant working across modes has to find each agency's own annual notice. Two things this makes visible that a single-mode page cannot: FRA sets three different rates for three employee categories (covered service, maintenance-of-way, mechanical), and FMCSA publishes no annual notice at all \u2014 its rate stands in the regulation until it changes. Each record is one mode (and, for FRA, one employee category) with its minimum random testing rate(s), the CFR basis where the source states one, and the industry positive rate that held or moved it. Answers 'what percentage of drivers/pilots/transit employees must be randomly drug tested this year', 'why did the random testing rate change', 'is our testing rate above or below the DOT minimum'.", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/", "licence": "US federal regulation and Federal Register notices \u2014 17 USC 105, no copyright", "last_verified": "2026-09-16", "stale_after": "2027-02-15", "sources": [ "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/05/2025-22036/notice-of-cy-2026-minimum-random-drug-and-alcohol-testing-rates", "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-382.305", "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/08/2026-00167/drug-and-alcohol-testing-determination-of-minimum-random-testing-rates-for-2026", "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/15/2026-00644/transit-random-drug-and-alcohol-testing-rates-for-2026", "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/09/2025-22326/pipeline-safety-minimum-random-drug-testing-rate-for-calendar-year-2026" ], "records": [ { "mode_year": "FAA CY2026", "agency": "Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)", "calendar_year": "calendar year 2026", "random_drug_testing_rate": "25%", "random_alcohol_testing_rate": "10%", "rate_basis": "In 2024, the random drug test positive rate was 0.816%. Therefore, the minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 25% for calendar year 2026.", "regulatory_basis": "Title 14, section 120.109(b) (for drug testing), and 120.217(c) (for alcohol testing)", "source_notice": "Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Percentage Rates of Covered Aviation Employees for the Period of January 1, 2026, Through December 31, 2026", "id": "faa-cy2026", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/faa-cy2026/", "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/05/2025-22036/notice-of-cy-2026-minimum-random-drug-and-alcohol-testing-rates", "source_quote": "Pursuant to 14 CFR 120.109(b) , the FAA Administrator's decision on whether to change the minimum annual random drug testing rate is based on the reported random drug test positive rate for the entire aviation industry. If the reported random drug test positive rate is less than 1.00%, the Administrator may continue the minimum random drug testing rate at 25%. In 2024, the random drug test positive rate was 0.816%. Therefore, the minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 25% for calendar year 2026. Similarly, 14 CFR 120.217(c) , requires the decision on the minimum annual random alcohol testing rate to be based on the random alcohol test violation rate. If the violation rate remains less than 0.50%, the Administrator may continue the minimum random alcohol testing rate at 10%. In 2024, the random alcohol test violation rate was 0.131%. Therefore, the minimum random alcohol testing rate will remain at 10% for calendar year 2026.", "verified_fields": [ "calendar_year", "random_alcohol_testing_rate", "random_drug_testing_rate", "rate_basis" ], "derived_fields": [ "mode_year" ] }, { "mode_year": "FMCSA - standing minimum annual percentage rate", "agency": "Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration", "random_drug_testing_rate": "50 percent", "random_alcohol_testing_rate": "10 percent", "rate_basis": "The FMCSA Administrator's decision to increase or decrease the minimum annual percentage rate for alcohol testing is based on the reported violation rate for the entire industry.", "regulatory_basis": "49 CFR 382.305", "source_notice": "49 CFR 382.305 -- Random testing", "id": "fmcsa-standing-minimum-annual-percentage-rate", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/fmcsa-standing-minimum-annual-percentage-rate/", "source": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-382.305", "source_quote": "(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (c) through (e) of this section, the minimum annual percentage rate for random alcohol testing shall be 10 percent of the average number of driver positions. (2) Except as provided in paragraphs (f) through (h) of this section, the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing shall be 50 percent of the average number of driver positions. (c) The FMCSA Administrator's decision to increase or decrease the minimum annual percentage rate for alcohol testing is based on the reported violation rate for the entire industry. All information used for this determination is drawn from the alcohol management information system reports required by \u00a7 382.403 . In order to ensure reliability of the data, the FMCSA Administrator considers the quality and completeness of the reported data, may obtain additional information or reports from employers, and may make appropriate modifications in calculating the industry violation rate. In the event of a change in the annual percentage rate, the FMCSA Administrator will publish in the Federal Register the new minimum annual percentage rate for random alcohol testing of drivers. The new minimum annual percentage rate for random alcohol testing will be applicable starting January 1 of the calendar year following publication in the Federal Register.", "verified_fields": [ "random_alcohol_testing_rate", "random_drug_testing_rate", "rate_basis" ], "derived_fields": [ "mode_year" ] }, { "mode_year": "FRA CY2026 - covered service employees", "agency": "Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)", "calendar_year": "January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026", "random_drug_testing_rate": "25 percent", "random_alcohol_testing_rate": "10 percent", "rate_basis": "The industry-wide random alcohol testing violation rate for covered service employees remained below 0.5 percent for 2023 and 2024, and the industry-wide random drug testing positive rate for covered service employees remained below 1.0 percent for 2023 and 2024.", "source_notice": "Drug and Alcohol Testing: Determination of Minimum Random Testing Rates for 2026", "id": "fra-cy2026-covered-service-employees", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/fra-cy2026-covered-service-employees/", "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/08/2026-00167/drug-and-alcohol-testing-determination-of-minimum-random-testing-rates-for-2026", "source_quote": "The industry-wide random drug testing positive rate for covered service ( printed page 760) employees remained below 1.0 percent for 2023 and 2024. The Administrator has therefore determined the minimum annual random drug testing rate for covered service employees will remain at 25 percent for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The industry-wide random alcohol testing violation rate for covered service employees remained below 0.5 percent for 2023 and 2024. The Administrator has therefore determined the minimum random annual alcohol testing rate for covered service employees will remain at 10 percent for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.", "verified_fields": [ "calendar_year", "random_alcohol_testing_rate", "random_drug_testing_rate" ], "derived_fields": [ "mode_year" ] }, { "mode_year": "FRA CY2026 - maintenance-of-way (MOW) employees", "agency": "Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)", "calendar_year": "January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026", "random_drug_testing_rate": "25 percent", "random_alcohol_testing_rate": "10 percent", "rate_basis": "The industry-wide random drug testing positive rate for MOW employees remained below 1.0 percent for 2023 and 2024.", "source_notice": "Drug and Alcohol Testing: Determination of Minimum Random Testing Rates for 2026", "id": "fra-cy2026-maintenance-of-way-mow-employees", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/fra-cy2026-maintenance-of-way-mow-employees/", "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/08/2026-00167/drug-and-alcohol-testing-determination-of-minimum-random-testing-rates-for-2026", "source_quote": "The industry-wide random drug testing positive rate for MOW employees remained below 1.0 percent for 2023 and 2024. The Administrator has therefore determined the minimum annual random drug testing rate for MOW employees will remain at 25 percent for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The industry-wide random alcohol testing violation rate for MOW employees remained below 0.5 percent for 2023 and 2024. The Administrator has therefore determined the minimum random alcohol testing rate for MOW employees will remain at 10 percent for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.", "verified_fields": [ "calendar_year", "random_alcohol_testing_rate", "random_drug_testing_rate", "rate_basis" ], "derived_fields": [ "mode_year" ] }, { "mode_year": "FRA CY2026 - mechanical (MECH) employees", "agency": "Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)", "calendar_year": "January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026", "random_drug_testing_rate": "50 percent", "random_alcohol_testing_rate": "10 percent", "rate_basis": "The industry-wide random drug testing positive rate for MECH employees was above 1.0 percent for 2023 and 2024.", "source_notice": "Drug and Alcohol Testing: Determination of Minimum Random Testing Rates for 2026", "id": "fra-cy2026-mechanical-mech-employees", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/fra-cy2026-mechanical-mech-employees/", "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/08/2026-00167/drug-and-alcohol-testing-determination-of-minimum-random-testing-rates-for-2026", "source_quote": "The industry-wide random drug testing positive rate for MECH employees was above 1.0 percent for 2023 and 2024. The Administrator has therefore determined the minimum annual random drug testing rate for MECH employees will remain at 50 percent for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The industry-wide random alcohol testing violation rate for MECH employees was below 0.5 percent for 2023 and 2024. The Administrator has therefore determined the minimum annual random alcohol testing rate for MECH employees will be lowered from 25 percent to 10 percent for the period January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.", "verified_fields": [ "calendar_year", "random_alcohol_testing_rate", "random_drug_testing_rate", "rate_basis" ], "derived_fields": [ "mode_year" ] }, { "mode_year": "FTA CY2026", "agency": "Federal Transit Administration (FTA)", "calendar_year": "calendar year 2026", "random_drug_testing_rate": "50 percent", "random_alcohol_testing_rate": "10 percent", "rate_basis": "based on a verified positive rate for prohibited drug use of 1.24 percent for calendar year 2024 and 1.23 percent for calendar year 2023", "regulatory_basis": "49 CFR 655.45", "source_notice": "Prevention of Alcohol Misuse and Prohibited Drug Use in Transit Operations", "id": "fta-cy2026", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/fta-cy2026/", "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/15/2026-00644/transit-random-drug-and-alcohol-testing-rates-for-2026", "source_quote": "For calendar year 2026, the Administrator has determined that the minimum random drug testing rate for covered employees will remain at 50 percent based on a verified positive rate for prohibited drug use of 1.24 percent for calendar year 2024 and 1.23 percent for calendar year 2023. Further, the Administrator has determined that the minimum random alcohol testing rate for calendar year 2026 will remain at 10 percent, because the violation rate again was lower than 0.5 percent for calendar years 2024 and 2023. The random alcohol violation rates were 0.17 percent for 2024 and 0.18 for 2023.", "verified_fields": [ "calendar_year", "random_alcohol_testing_rate", "random_drug_testing_rate", "rate_basis" ], "derived_fields": [ "mode_year" ] }, { "mode_year": "PHMSA CY2026", "agency": "Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)", "calendar_year": "CY 2026", "random_drug_testing_rate": "50 percent", "rate_basis": "The DAMIS reports submitted for CY 2024 testing had a random drug testing positive rate greater than one percent.", "regulatory_basis": "49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 199", "source_notice": "Pipeline Safety: Minimum Random Drug Testing Rate for Calendar Year 2026", "id": "phmsa-cy2026", "url": "https://referencesource.org/dot-random-drug-alcohol-testing-rates-by-mode/phmsa-cy2026/", "source": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/09/2025-22326/pipeline-safety-minimum-random-drug-testing-rate-for-calendar-year-2026", "source_quote": "The minimum annual random drug testing rate was 50 percent of all ( printed page 57130) covered employees during CY 2025. The DAMIS reports submitted for CY 2024 testing had a random drug testing positive rate greater than one percent. Therefore, the Administrator is maintaining the minimum annual random drug testing rate at 50 percent of all covered employees for CY 2026.", "verified_fields": [ "calendar_year", "random_drug_testing_rate", "rate_basis" ], "derived_fields": [ "mode_year" ] } ] }