The term “consensus pool” is a typical word used in the world of drug testing to describe a driver pool from unrelated businesses that join together to create a single entity or huge collection of Department of Transportation (DOT)regulated drivers to fulfill DOT mandatory alcohol and drug tests for its members. Sometimes, it is called a drug screening group, it is also known as a C/TPA or the term is often used to refer to a Consortium also known as a Third Party Administrator. It’s a group of companies or employers who unite, with a payment to a C/TPA to assist in managing an in-person drug and alcohol testing pool. The administrator of the consortium or C/TPA manages the pool’s updates and supervises the selection procedure. Only businesses that have 49 or fewer employees can join the consortium.
Consortiums permit smaller businesses as well as proprietor operators to comply with the specifications of the DOT model they are a part of and help to reduce costs.
DOT Consortium for Fleets:
Motor carriers with over 49 employees usually possess their drug test pool or consortium. This means that they combine their drivers, at a minimum of 50% of drugs and 10-10% alcohol. They have a DER, also known as a Designated Employer Representative as well as a DAPM, who runs the program. The program manager uses an established method of scientific research that has been approved by the DOT Consortium to identify drivers to be tested for their random testing program. A DER or DAPM DER or DAPM will then notify and send every driver chosen to take part in the random drug test.
But what happens if the motor company has fewer than 50 drivers?
DOT Consortium for Owner Operators:
Motor Carriers with fewer than 49 drivers are usually included in the Drug and Alcohol Testing Random Pool or “Consortium”. A lot of the Motor Carriers have the personnel to manage the DER and DAPM and instead hire an external Third Party Administrator, or TPA to manage their program on their behalf. The TPA will place their drivers into a larger pool of drivers who belong to other Motor Carriers to form a larger driver pool. Owner Operators must be part of a random testing pool, as you can’t create a random pool from one. If an Owner Operator is a part of an association or C/TPA Pool and C/TPA Pool C/TPA is their designated DER, or DAPM and will notify the owner-operator that they are selected to take a random drug test or drug test and alcohol test, and they are required to go to the testing center.
Sarah Hope is the CEO of Vertical Identity. Vertical Identity operates as a C/TPA of thousands of motor carrier companies across the nation offering background checks, motor vehicle driver reports, and alcohol and drug testing. The drug-testing program offered by Vertical Identity for independent or owner-operators drivers was designed to ensure that drivers are in compliance and eliminate the stress of DOT audits while keeping owners at par with brokers and contractors.
What is an FMCSA DOT consortium?
DOT can be the abbreviation for Department of Transportation. It is the department that DOT regulates or supervises Transportation Safety on the roads as well as air and water. There are many different types of modalities or divisions within the DOT that they oversee. These are as follows:
FMCSA regulates road safety. The roads we are driving on. They control the 18-wheelers you pass on the road that bring all products to our supermarket’s cars, retailers, and much more. They are the ones who make commerce possible. These carriers are referred to as Motor Carriers and require an MC number, as well as a DOT number. The numbers are often seen on the sides of the semis while driving.
The FMCSA releases safety Ratings for these businesses because their safety affects us all on the shared road.
There are more than 300K motor carriers in the state starting from the single-owner-operator up to huge fleets such as Walmart, Amazon, Swift, and many more. But, there are many thousands of private motor carriers, also known as owners/operators. All motor carriers and their drivers must conduct Drug as well as Alcohol Testing. The testing must be performed randomly, at different times of the day or week, month, and throughout the year.
