FRA Compliance

Current Drug & Alcohol Testing Random Rates:

The random annual drug testing rate for standard FRA employees is 25% for drug testing and 10% for alcohol testing annually. For MOW employees it is 25% for drug testing and 10% for alcohol testing annually. For Mechanical employees it is 50% for drug testing and 25% for alcohol testing annually.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is tasked by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to enforce the safety, reliability, and efficiency of railroad transportation services. Contractors are expected to focus on enforcement and compliance for tracks, hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, signal and train control, and operating practices to avoid violation penalties and/or fees.

Drug & Alcohol Testing

Safety-sensitive employees are subject to drug testing, including maintenance-of-way (MOW) employees. A MOW employee includes contractors whose duties involve:

• Inspections
• Construction
• Maintenance/repairs of tracks, bridges, roadways, signal and communications systems, electronic traction systems, roadway facilities or maintenance machinery
• Flagmen and watchmen

Regulated service employees include:

• Hours of service
• Roadway workers
• Train and engine services (conductors, brakemen, switchmen, engineers, locomotive hostlers/helpers)
• Dispatching (train dispatchers, control operators)
• Signal (inspect, repair, or maintain signal systems and maintenance of way employees performing duties of roadway workers)

The FRA requires contractors to submit a 219 Compliance Plan, which must be approved by the FRA. This will ensure that contractors establish a random testing pool for employees, and that it meets all FRA requirements. For standard FRA employees, a 25% rate for drug and 10% rate for alcohol is required on an annual basis and for MOW employees, a 50% rate for drug and 25% rate for alcohol on an annual basis.

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DISA’s consolidated compliance services will relieve the administrative burden for employers while ensuring you remain in compliance with all DOT regulations. DISA's FRA compliance services include:

• DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing
• Record Keeping (Fleet Management)
• Random Drug Testing Programs
• Drug Testing Supervisor Training
• Access to Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)