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Random Drug Testing Programs for Employers

What Is a Random Drug Testing Program?

A random drug testing program is when employers test a randomly selected percentage of their employees throughout the year — unannounced. Employees are chosen by a scientifically valid random selection process, so no one knows when they might be selected.

Random testing is one of the most effective deterrents to workplace drug use because employees know they could be tested at any time.

DOT Random Drug Testing Requirements

If you have DOT-covered employees (like CDL drivers under FMCSA), federal law requires random drug testing at specific rates:

Agency	Drug Testing Rate	Alcohol Testing Rate
FMCSA (trucking)	50% of covered employees/year	10% of covered employees/year
FAA (aviation)	25%	10%
FTA (transit)	50%	10%
FRA (railroad)	25%	10%

Rates can change — always confirm with your TPA or DER for current requirements.

How a Random Drug Testing Pool Works

All covered employees are placed in a pool
A computer randomly selects names throughout the year
Selected employees are notified and must report for testing immediately
Collections are completed and results routed to your MRO or TPA
New random selections continue until the required rate is met for the year

Your pool administrator (usually a TPA or consortium) manages the selections. We handle the collections.

Non-DOT Random Drug Testing

For non-DOT employees, your company policy sets the rules:

You decide the testing rate (e.g., test 25% of employees per year)
Selections must be random and documented as such
State law may restrict random testing for certain employee categories — check with your HR attorney

Why On-Site Random Testing Works Better

Sending randomly selected employees to a clinic creates chaos:

Employees disappear for 1–2 hours during shifts
No-shows are common
Supervisors lose track of who's been tested

When we come to you:

Testing happens in a controlled on-site window
Employees rotate through without leaving the floor
Supervisors stay in the loop
Batch collections are efficient for groups of 5–50+

Related services

Common questions

What happens if a randomly selected employee refuses to test?: Under DOT rules, a refusal to test is treated the same as a positive — the employee must be removed from safety-sensitive duties immediately. Non-DOT programs follow your company policy.
Can we do random testing for just some departments?: For non-DOT programs, yes — your policy defines who is in the pool. For DOT programs, all safety-sensitive employees in covered roles must be in the pool.
How do we get started with a random testing program?: Start by identifying which employees need testing (DOT or non-DOT), set a testing frequency in your policy, and work with a TPA to manage pool selections. Contact us to handle the collections.

Set up your random testing program

Tell us your sites, schedules, and program type—we'll help confirm a realistic on-site collection plan.

Set up your random testing program Call (219) 315-0345