Who this is for: small fleet managers, owner-operators
DOT Drug Testing Program Setup Checklist
Setting up a DOT drug and alcohol testing program requires multiple steps: written policy, C/TPA enrollment, pre-employment testing, and Clearinghouse registration. This checklist covers the initial setup.
Important Notice
This checklist is educational. Drug and alcohol program setup requires compliance with complex federal regulations. Consult a qualified compliance professional.
Checklist Items
Checkboxes reset on page reload. This is a reference tool only — not a saved record.
Setting up the program before the first driver is dispatched
DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements apply before the first safety-sensitive dispatch — not after a fleet is established. Carriers who hire a first driver without a C/TPA in place, a written policy, and a pre-employment drug test result in hand are out of compliance from day one. The items on this checklist should be completed sequentially: select the C/TPA, draft the policy, register in the Clearinghouse, then process each driver through pre-employment drug testing and Clearinghouse queries before their first trip.
Written policy requirements and distribution
A written drug and alcohol testing policy is required by 49 CFR Part 382. The policy must describe the circumstances under which testing occurs, the consequences of violations, the availability of assistance programs (EAP or SAP referral), and how testing is administered. Each driver must receive a copy and sign an acknowledgment. The acknowledgment is retained in the DQ file. While FMCSA does not prescribe specific policy language, using a policy template from your C/TPA ensures the required elements are covered.
Before you use this template
Treat this page as a working checklist, not a substitute for your carrier's written policy. Add your company name, DOT number, driver name, dates, and the name of the person completing the review before filing a copy. If a checklist item does not apply, mark it that way and note why; a blank field is harder to explain later than a short, dated note.
Keep the completed copy with the underlying evidence: query confirmations, MVR receipts, medical certificates, test results, signed acknowledgments, or other documents named in the checklist. Do not backdate missing records. If you discover a gap during a self-audit, correct it on the actual correction date and keep a note showing what changed.
For multi-driver fleets, save one completed copy per driver or vehicle record rather than keeping a single shared checklist. That makes later reviews cleaner and helps a new manager see exactly which file was checked, by whom, and on what date.
Notes
- Post-accident testing must be arranged quickly — confirm collection site availability in your operating area.
- Random testing rates are set annually — check DOT ODAPC's random testing rates page before setting the year's testing schedule.