DOT Compliance Program
Fully Managed.

What Is a C/TPA

Your Outsourced DOT Compliance Department

A Consortium and Third-Party Administrator, or C/TPA, manages the administrative and recordkeeping responsibilities of your DOT drug and alcohol testing program on your behalf. FMCSA Part 382 applies to employers of covered drivers who operate commercial motor vehicles requiring a CDL or CLP in commerce. Those employers must maintain the required drug and alcohol testing program for their covered drivers.

For most small and mid-size carriers, running that program in-house means pulling someone off their primary job to manage random selections, track Clearinghouse queries, maintain chain-of-custody documentation, and stay current on regulatory changes. That is exactly what Skyside handles for you.

Your Designated Employer Representative handles day-to-day operations. We handle the compliance program behind them.

What We Manage

Complete Program Administration

• Random pool management: We administer random selections using the current FMCSA minimum annual testing rates. For 2026, those rates are 50% for controlled substances and 10% for alcohol. See how C/TPA random-pool management works.
• Pre-employment testing coordination: Every new CDL hire tested before their first safety-sensitive function.
• FMCSA Clearinghouse support: We support permitted employer/C/TPA Clearinghouse functions and help keep the required query workflow organized. See the employer query requirements.
• MRO-reviewed results: Every result is reviewed by a Medical Review Officer before it reaches you. Verified results are reported to your DER promptly.
• Post-accident and reasonable suspicion coordination: We help your DER recognize the applicable process and coordinate testing when a qualifying event occurs. See post-accident rules.
• Audit-ready recordkeeping: Program documentation is maintained and organized with audit readiness in mind.
• Policy development and review: Your DOT drug-free workplace policy reviewed and updated to current regulatory requirements.

Regulatory Compliance

What the Regulations Require

FMCSA regulations under 49 CFR Part 382 require employers to test covered employees in the following circumstances. Non-compliance carries civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and can result in an out-of-service order that grounds your operation.

• Pre-employment: Before a driver performs any safety-sensitive function for the first time.
• Random: Minimum 50% of your average driver count annually for drugs, 10% for alcohol.
• Post-accident: Following qualifying accidents involving fatality, bodily injury, or disabling damage.
• Reasonable suspicion: When a trained supervisor observes specific, contemporaneous signs of impairment.
• Return to duty: Following a verified positive or refusal, before resuming safety-sensitive functions.
• Follow-up: Unannounced testing following return to duty, minimum 6 tests in 12 months.

Why It Matters Now

The Regulatory Landscape Is Tightening

DOT has proposed adding fentanyl and norfentanyl to the federal testing panel, but that proposal has not been finalized as of August 31, 2026. The June 2026 Part 40 final rule addressed directly observed urine collections when a required oral-fluid collection cannot be conducted and made related terminology changes. Read the current 2026 DOT rule update.

The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse remains a core employer compliance responsibility. Covered employers must complete the required pre-employment and annual query process and respond appropriately to driver status information. Review the query requirements.

A C/TPA can reduce the administrative burden and help create a more consistent program, while the employer retains legal responsibility for compliance.

Request a Program Assessment