For Department of Transportation (DOT) regulated employers, random drug and alcohol testing is both a requirement and a responsibility. Even in non-DOT-regulated industries, such as health care and construction, random drug testing is a best practice that keeps employees, patients, and clients safe and engaged. But even if you’ve committed to a testing program, you still have a critical decision to make—do you manage your own testing internally with a standalone pool, or do you join other companies in a consortium?
Both approaches have benefits and drawbacks. The type of pool you choose will affect your compliance, costs, and employees’ testing experience. Whether you are a single owner-operator, a small trucking company with just a few employees, or a significant operation with a large fleet, we will walk you through the pros and cons of each approach so you can make the best decision for your company. Let’s jump right in so you can confidently navigate the road of DOT testing.
Consortium Pools
A consortium is a group of companies who join together to create a larger testing pool. This allows owner-operators and smaller companies to meet DOT testing requirements, benefit from a larger, more diverse pool, and spread the cost of testing out over multiple companies. A testing consortium might include owner-operators, small trucking companies, and mid-size companies with just a few drivers or even large companies.
The FMCSA requires that 50% of the pool is tested for drugs annually and 10% for alcohol. As an example, let’s imagine that a consortium consists of 1000 individuals from multiple companies. Each year, 500 individuals will be selected for drug tests and 100 for alcohol. It is possible that a company will not have anyone that gets selected for a drug or alcohol test in a year. As long as the required employees are in the consortium testing pool, the company remains in compliance with DOT requirements.
There is no minimum or maximum number of individuals that have to be in a random consortium. The Department of Transportation requires owner-operators to use a consortium pool. Any other company can choose which pool works best. A good rule of thumb is that employers with less than 20 employees should be in a consortium pool, and companies with over 20 employees can manage their own testing in a standalone pool.
Consortium/Third-Party Administrators (C/TPA) manage consortium pools. Hundreds of C/TPAs in the United States can provide for your company’s testing needs. Know that when you use a consortium pool, you must abide by the consortium’s rules, or they will remove you from the pool.
Consortium Pros
- You will be part of a larger and more diverse pool.
- The consortium manages the administration of the pool, including random selection, records, and DOT compliance.
- A consortium can be more cost-effective for small companies since it is likely fewer employees will be tested.
Consortium Cons
- Because it is a large testing pool, your employees may not be tested as frequently.
- You don’t have control over the testing procedures.
- You have to adhere to the requirements and rules of the consortium.
Standalone Pools
If you are a mid-size to large company, consider using your own internal, standalone testing pool. As an employer, you can manage the pool directly or use a third-party administrator.
The FMCSA has the exact testing requirements for standalone pools as for a consortium. So, if you have 100 employees in the testing pool, you will need to test 50 of them for drugs and 10 for alcohol annually.
You must complete testing annually, but for the testing to be effective, you should spread it out over the year. Conducting random testing monthly or quarterly is a good idea. Vary the time of day you initiate tests. The worst thing you could do would be to test at the same time of the month and the same time of day each time. You want testing to be regular but unpredictable. Employees shouldn’t be able to say, “Drug tests happen on the third Tuesday of every month, first thing in the morning.”
Standalone Pros
- You get to control the timing and frequency of your tests.
- You ensure that your employees are tested regularly, since all the pool members come from your company.
Standalone Cons
- You are responsible for ensuring that your testing is compliant with FMCSA requirements.
- You have to manage all the aspects of testing, including keeping the pool updated and keeping accurate records.
- Standalone testing might be more expensive, especially for smaller companies, since the pool is smaller and you are responsible for all the management.
Ordering a Drug Test
Whether you are using a standalone or a consortium testing pool, once one of your employees is selected for a random drug or alcohol test, you must use a qualified testing provider. A certified drug and alcohol testing technician will follow all state and federal regulations.
You don’t have to wonder, “Where can I find a DOT testing center near me?” any longer. TeamCME is your one-stop shop for finding local clinics qualified to administer DOT physicals and drug and alcohol tests for commercial drivers.
Drug and Alcohol testing is crucial to maintaining a safe and productive workplace. Now that you understand the differences between a consortium and a standalone testing pool, you are ready to choose the best solution for your company and employees.
