FMCSA to continue to randomly drug test 50 percent of truck operators

Random drug testing rates for trucking company employees in safety sensitive positions, like truck drivers, will continue at 50 percent in the coming year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Dec. 31.

The agency says it based its decision to maintain the 50 percent rate on data from surveys conducted in 2012.

Data from that survey showed, FMCSA says:

-Positive drug tests rose 4.1 percent in 2012 from 2011.

-Positive rates of drug tests initiated from reasonable suspicion jumped sharply from 2010 to 2012, according to the survey: 2010’s positive rate was 5.6 percent, 2011’s 15.7 and 2012’s 37.2 percent.

-The rate of total positive drug test results reported to the DOT from federally certified labs saw a slight jump from 2011 to 2012 — 95,427 in 2011 to 97,332 in 2012.