A testing pool is not a testing program. FMCSA wants the second one — a complete administered system. That's what a C/TPA is for.
Under 49 CFR Part 40 and FMCSA regulations, every DOT‑regulated carrier must run a fully administered drug and alcohol testing program. Trucking Comply is your registered C/TPA: we handle random pool enrollment and quarterly selections, coordinate with FMCSA‑certified MROs, report violations to the Clearinghouse, retain records, and file your annual MIS. For owner‑operators and small‑to‑mid fleets, this is the most cost‑effective and audit‑proof way to meet every federal testing requirement — without building an in‑house compliance team.
DOT drug & alcohol consortium — everything in your C/TPA program.
Six administrative responsibilities, one annual fee. Drivers in the pool, results to the MRO, violations to Clearinghouse, MIS to FMCSA. You drive. We file.
- 01Same‑day enrollment
DOT random testing consortium enrollment
Drivers join our FMCSA‑compliant random pool and are selected quarterly using DOT‑approved random selection — meeting the federal 50% drug / 10% alcohol annual testing rate.
- 02Per requirement
FMCSA Clearinghouse violation reporting
We report drug and alcohol program violations to the FMCSA Clearinghouse on your behalf — positive tests, refusals, and return‑to‑duty outcomes.
- 03Per test cycle
Medical Review Officer (MRO) coordination
All test results are reviewed by a licensed DOT‑qualified MRO. We manage the lab→MRO→you chain, so you only ever see verified final results.
- 04Annually
Annual MIS report filing
Per 49 CFR § 382.403, every employer must prepare and maintain an annual Management Information System (MIS) summary of testing activity and submit it to FMCSA by March 15 if notified during January that they have been selected for reporting. We prepare your summary every year and file on your behalf when required.
- 05Ongoing
Test records & compliance documentation
We retain all required testing records for federally mandated periods — 5 years for positives and refusals, 2 years for negatives — so you stay audit‑ready.
- 06As needed
Return‑to‑duty & follow‑up testing coordination
When a driver tests positive or refuses, we coordinate the DOT return‑to‑duty process — SAP referral, return‑to‑duty test, and follow‑up testing schedule.
What it costs to not have one.
The downside of an incomplete program isn't a slap on the wrist. It's civil penalties, out‑of‑service orders, lost authority, and carriers walking away from your DOT number on the load board.
Per violation
Civil penalties up to $19,246 per violation.
Per 49 CFR Part 386 Appendix B(a)(3), FMCSA can assess up to $19,246 per non-recordkeeping violation, and up to $15,846 per recordkeeping violation (at $1,584/day continuing), for failing to maintain a compliant testing program. Multiple violations compound quickly.
Same‑day stop
Out‑of‑service orders shut down operations.
FMCSA and roadside enforcement can place your vehicles and drivers out of service immediately. Every day OOS is lost revenue and damaged customer relationships.
MC revocation
Loss of operating authority.
Repeated or egregious non‑compliance can result in revocation of your MC number — permanently ending your ability to operate as a for‑hire carrier.
Separate fine
Clearinghouse query violations.
Failing to run pre‑employment full queries or annual limited queries is a separate FMCSA violation, with penalties assessed independently from testing program issues.
Lost loads
Damaged broker & shipper relationships.
Most brokers and shippers verify carrier safety scores before tendering loads. A compliance failure or unsatisfactory safety rating removes you from carrier lists.
Simple, transparent pricing.
$100 covers your consortium membership for up to 4 drivers — MRO included, MIS filing included. Each additional driver is $25 per year. Pre‑employment drug testing is billed separately at $57 per driver.
Annual membership
$100
/ year · 4 drivers included
Full consortium membership for up to 4 drivers. Additional drivers $25 each per year.
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Up to 4 drivers included
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$25 / additional driver / year
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MRO fees included
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Membership certificate
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Access to 10,000+ collection sites
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Portal access on request
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Annual MIS report filing
Pre‑employment drug test
$57
/ driver pre‑paid
Required before a new CDL driver operates a CMV for your company.
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$57 / test — pre‑paid via portal
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$60 / test — post‑paid
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HHS‑certified collection sites nationwide
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MRO‑reviewed results
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DOT 5‑panel urine test
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Alcohol testing — $70 / test
Questions about pricing? — Contact us
From order to ongoing administration.
Same‑day enrollment, then a quiet running program in the background. We notify you only when action is required on your part.
- 01
Order confirmation & onboarding
Confirmation lands instantly. Our compliance team reaches out to collect company details, driver info, and any existing testing records — clean transition if you are switching from another C/TPA.
- 02
Driver enrollment & consortium pool entry
Drivers are enrolled in our FMCSA‑compliant random pool. We register your company as an enrolled employer and document all required enrollment records.
- 03
Clearinghouse setup guidance
We walk you through designating us as your C/TPA so we can report violations on your behalf. Pre‑employment and annual driver queries remain your responsibility — we provide the playbook.
- 04
Ongoing program administration
From this point on, we manage random selections, test coordination, MRO chain, Clearinghouse violation reporting, recordkeeping, and annual MIS — notifying you only when action is required.
Concrete benchmarks, no marketing fluff.
From enrollment speed to the size of the nationwide testing network your drivers can access.
Consortium enrollment
Same day
For orders placed before 3 PM EST
Documentation delivery
1–2 days
Membership certificate + enrollment docs ready
Random pool activation
1–3 days
Eligible for next quarterly random selection cycle
Collection sites
10,000+
HHS‑certified sites nationwide — find one near your drivers
◇ Further reading
The five-phase compliance roadmap.
The full step-by-step roadmap from C/TPA designation through quarterly randoms — the 5–7 day provisioning window, the responsibility map between the C/TPA and the motor carrier, and the platform features coming Summer 2026.
What carriers actually ask.
01Do I need a C/TPA if I only have one driver?
Yes. FMCSA regulations under 49 CFR Part 382 require every CDL driver in DOT‑regulated operations to be enrolled in a compliant random testing program — regardless of fleet size. An owner‑operator with a single truck cannot conduct a statistically valid random selection on one person. Joining a consortium satisfies this requirement by pooling your driver(s) with others to meet the mandated selection rates. Operating without consortium enrollment puts your authority at risk.
02What is the difference between a random testing consortium and a standalone testing program?
A standalone program is maintained by larger carriers with enough drivers to meet DOT minimum selection rates (50% drug / 10% alcohol annually) internally. A consortium pools multiple employers into a single random testing pool, allowing owner‑operators and small fleets to meet the same federal requirement. For most fleets under 10 drivers, joining a consortium is the only practical and cost‑effective way to comply with the random testing mandate.
03What does the DOT 5‑panel drug test screen for?
The DOT‑mandated urine drug test screens for five substance categories: marijuana (THC metabolites), cocaine, amphetamines (including methamphetamine and MDMA), opioids (heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine), and phencyclidine (PCP). Collection and chain‑of‑custody procedures follow strict HHS/SAMHSA standards, and all results are reviewed by a DOT‑qualified MRO before being reported to your company.
04How does the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse affect my business?
The Clearinghouse is a federal database that tracks drug and alcohol program violations for CDL drivers. As your C/TPA, we report violations — positive tests, refusals, return‑to‑duty outcomes — on your behalf. Employers are separately responsible for conducting pre‑employment full queries and annual limited queries for their drivers. We provide guidance on how to register and run these queries through the Clearinghouse portal.
05What happens if one of my drivers tests positive?
A positive result triggers the DOT return‑to‑duty process. The driver must immediately be removed from all safety‑sensitive functions. They must complete an evaluation by a DOT‑qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), follow the SAP’s recommended education or treatment program, pass a return‑to‑duty drug test with a verified negative result, and complete a follow‑up testing schedule determined by the SAP — minimum 6 unannounced tests in the first 12 months following return to duty. We coordinate the entire process and track required follow‑up tests on your behalf.
06How does DOT random selection work — and when will my drivers be tested?
DOT requires that carriers test at least 50% of their average CDL driver count for drugs and 10% for alcohol each calendar year. Our consortium conducts random draws quarterly using DOT‑approved scientific selection software. Drivers are selected without advance notice; when your driver is selected, you receive notification and must send them for testing as soon as their duty time permits — typically same shift when practicable. Drivers who complete one draw period without selection remain in the pool for subsequent draws.
07Can I switch from my current C/TPA to Trucking Comply?
Yes — we handle C/TPA transitions regularly. When you enroll, our compliance team requests your existing testing records, confirms driver enrollment history, and ensures a clean handoff with no gaps in your compliance program. Under DOT retention rules you must keep records from your prior program (5 years for positives and refusals; 2 years for negatives). We advise on how to transfer or retain those records during the transition.
08What is the FMCSA Annual MIS Report and do I have to file it?
Maybe — and the underlying summary is required either way. Per 49 CFR § 382.403(a), every employer must prepare and maintain an annual Management Information System (MIS) summary of testing activity (drivers tested, test types conducted, results, and return‑to‑duty activity) available on request from FMCSA, any DOT agency, or state/local officials. Separately, § 382.403(b) requires that if FMCSA notifies your company during January that it has been selected for MIS reporting, the report must be submitted by March 15 of that year. Failing to file after being notified is a violation. As your C/TPA we prepare your annual MIS every year so the data is ready if you're selected, and we file on your behalf when required — included in your membership at no additional charge.
Protect your authority today.
Enroll today and receive same‑day consortium enrollment with ongoing program management — so you focus on running freight, not chasing compliance.
Contact Us
Need help deciding or have a compliance question? Reach out—our team answers real startup and audit questions every day.