CDL drivers working for multiple employers are more common than you think. There are specific regulations from FMCSA regarding such drivers.
Drivers who work for multiple employers are broadly classified into the following:
- Drivers who hold regular employment with multiple employers
- Drivers regularly employed by a motor carrier but occasionally drive for another motor carrier
- Driver in a non-motor carrier who occasionally or part-time drives for a motor carrier
- Occasional Drivers
Regulations for drug and alcohol testing for shared drivers
1. Drug and alcohol testing regulations apply to any driver who is:
- Operating a commercial motor vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) of 26,001 lbs. or more
- Transporting 16 passengers or more
- Transporting Hazardous Materials requiring placarding
2. It’s highly recommended to conduct pre-employment drug testing for all new drivers whether shared or not. This saves the motor carrier company from liabilities and you don’t have to rely on another motor carrier for your compliance.
3. A driver working for more than one employer needs to be added to the random pool for each employer. An owner-operator is both a driver and an employer. An owner operator who drives only under the authority of another employer would be included in the random pool of that employer. If that driver also works for himself, under his own authority, then he must also be in an owner-operator consortium.
All other forms of drug testing like post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty, and follow-up testing would apply to shared drivers.
FMCSA Clearinghouse regulations for shared drivers
The Clearinghouse pre-employment drug testing and query rules apply whenever the driver engages in any FMCSA-regulated tasks and to each employer for whom a driver works.
To sum it up, motor carrier companies are required to follow drug and alcohol testing regulations and maintain a driver qualification file for each driver operating a commercial motor vehicle.
What can InOut Labs do?
As rules and regulations are being revised regularly, it becomes increasingly difficult for employers to keep track of the changes. At InOut Labs we help you navigate the complexities of DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations and ensure you’re compliant with all DOT agencies.
