Management Services - Regional Drug Testing Program

The federal government with the passage in 1991 of the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act requires local governments to test commercially licensed drivers for illegal alcohol and drug use. The act allows employers to join together in a consortium for testing purposes. This allows for employees from several employers to be put into the same pool for potential random selection.

The Regional Drug Testing Program administered by the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments is such a consortium for local governments. This program complies with all requirements of the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act from random selection to chain-of-custody and medical review. Members are able to access this service through a one-time enrollment fee and then may elect to continue participation each year through the payment of an annually maintenance fee.

The Regional Drug and Alcohol Testing Program provides the following services to participating jurisdictions. Each of these services meets the requirements of the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act.

1. Assistance with developing and reviewing drug and alcohol testing policy;
2. Annual supervisor training in identifying "reasonable suspicion" for two staff members (additional charges will apply for more than two staff members per year);
3. Drug and alcohol information for your employees that meets the "employee awareness" training requirements;
4. Scientific random selection and maintain statistical summaries of employees randomly selected for testing;
5. Access to drug and alcohol testing sites with reasonable rates for drug and alcohol testing;
6. Access to medical review officers (MROs);
7. Access to breath alcohol technicians (BATs) 24 hours a day throughout North Carolina;
8. A list of available substance abuse professionals (SAPs);
9. Complete management information system (MIS) reports if you are selected by the Federal Highway Administration;
10. Technical support and assistance.

Fees for drug tests, alcohol tests, and medical review officer services are billed separately; bills are generated by the testing laboratory, and the medical review officer. Access to testing sites and the schedule of fees for testing is arranged through the testing program network.