CDL Safe Driving: Drug and Alcohol Training for Managers Training Course

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires strict drug and alcohol testing regulations to ensure safety among Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders and other safety-sensitive transportation employees, such as airline, railway, pipeline, and maritime workers. These rules, outlined in 49 CFR Part 40, were established to prevent accidents caused by substance use and to maintain public safety. This training will teach supervisors how to understand who is subject to testing, the types of tests performed, and how to handle violations.

Testing includes pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion situations. DOT-approved tests may use urine or oral fluid samples to detect substances like marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, and PCP. Alcohol testing is conducted with breathalyzers, and results above 0.02 require removal from duty for a specific period. Employers must maintain written drug and alcohol policies, designate a Designated Employer Representative (DER) to manage results and actions, and may choose to conduct testing internally or through third-party administrators.

Supervisors and employees must complete training covering testing requirements, refusal procedures, and the effects of drugs and alcohol; supervisors must receive at least one hour each on recognizing signs of drug and alcohol use. When violations occur, employees must be removed from safety-sensitive duties and complete a return-to-duty process under the guidance of a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). Employers are responsible for maintaining detailed records for inspection, with specific retention periods ranging from one to five years depending on the record type.

In this training, you learned a supervisors role in the drug and alcohol testing procedures including the when, who, and how of the process. Ultimately, supervisors and employers share accountability for enforcing DOT regulations, ensuring compliance, and keeping all employees safe, alert, and ready to perform their critical roles in transportation.

This program is available with Spanish and French closed captions.