The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register on Dec. 27  that it is increasing the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) from the current rate of 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%, effective in calendar year 2020.

The FMCSA Administrator must increase the minimum annual random testing percentage rate when the data received under the reporting requirements for any calendar year indicate that the reported positive rate is equal to or greater than 1%. Based on the results of the 2018 FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Survey, the positive rate for controlled substances random testing increased to 1%. Therefore, the Agency will increase the controlled substances minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing to 50% of the average number of driver positions.

According to the FMCSA, the new testing rate will mean that 2.1 million random controlled substances tests will need to be conducted in calendar year 2020, with a cost to the trucking industry of an additional $50 to $70 million.

This article was originally posted by American Trucker.