On January 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will continue requiring motor carriers to randomly test 50% of their drivers for controlled substances and 10% for alcohol. The DOT random testing rates, which were effective on the first day of the new year, apply to all safety-sensitive employees operating commercial motor vehicles, including company drivers and leased owner-operators.
The current percentages have been in place since 2020, when FMCSA raised the minimum drug testing rate from 25% to 50%. That increase was triggered by data showing that the national positive drug test rate among commercial drivers had exceeded 1%, a threshold established in federal regulations. Once that benchmark was crossed, FMCSA was required to double the testing rate to strengthen deterrence and improve roadway safety.
The data used to determine DOT random testing rates comes from the agency’s Drug and Alcohol Management Information System (MIS), which compiles annual reports from motor carriers on the results of their controlled substances and alcohol testing programs. This system provides a nationwide snapshot of compliance and helps regulators identify trends in substance use among drivers.
While the DOT random testing rates remain steady for 2026, they could change in the future. Federal rules allow the drug testing rate to drop back to 25% if the national positive rate falls below 1% for two consecutive years. For now, motor carriers are required to conduct random drug testing at a rate equivalent to half the average number of driver positions during the calendar year.
