WASHINGTON. D.C. — Nothing will change in 2015 when it comes to how many US truckers have to undergo random drug tests.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that the annual minimum random controlled substances testing rates for employees in safety sensitive positions, including tractor-trailer and bus drivers, will remain at 50 percent through 2015.

According to the agency, the rate was set based on data from motor carrier industry controlled substance lab test results, the 2012 drug and alcohol testing survey, and additional investigations. When compiled, the collected information demonstrates that:

• Positive test rates following an initial positive result increased by 4.1 percent from 2011 to 2012;
• Reasonable suspicion positive test rates continued to rise sharply from 5.6 percent in 2010, to 15.7 percent in 2011 and 37.2 percent in 2012, marking a five-fold increase over the 3-year period;
• The rate of total positive drug test results reported to DOT from independent Health and Human Services-certified laboratories increased from 95,427 positives in 2011 to 97,332 positives in 2012. FMCSA-regulated industries comprise approximately 80 percent of the reported tests;
• Serious controlled substance and alcohol testing violations were identified in 24 percent of recent compliance investigations;
• A two-week 2014 Strike Force focusing on the identification of drivers who tested positive resulted in 205 driver enforcement cases, and 138 enforcement cases against carriers for violations relating to drivers with positive test results operating a commercial motor vehicle. These include drivers operating passenger carrying vehicles and transporting hazardous materials.

The FMCSA does note, however, that results for its 2012 Drug and Alcohol Testing Survey of approximately 2,000 carriers indicate that positive random drug testing results have decreased for a second year. It also said it would review the testing rates again inf 2016.