08/18/2025
đź§Ş How Does Random Drug Testing Work?
Keeping workplaces safe and compliant starts with accountability—and random drug testing plays a key role.
At Norcal Drug and Alcohol Testing, we help companies meet DOT and non-DOT requirements with fast, confidential, and professional service. Here’s how random testing works:
🔹 Unannounced & Unpredictable
Employees are selected without prior notice—by a computer-generated randomization system. This ensures fairness and prevents anticipation.
🔹 Safety-Sensitive Focus
Industries like trucking, construction, and manufacturing rely on random testing to reduce accidents and ensure employees are fit for duty.
🔹 DOT Compliance
For CDL drivers and others regulated by the Department of Transportation, random testing is a legal requirement. Agencies like FMCSA mandate annual testing rates (e.g., 50% of drivers for drugs, 10% for alcohol).
🔹 Testing Methods
Most tests use urine samples, but saliva, hair, or blood may be used depending on the situation. Results are reviewed by certified labs and medical officers.
🔹 Consortium Support
Smaller companies and owner-operators often join a testing consortium—a pooled program that ensures compliance without the administrative burden.
Need help managing your random testing program?
We offer consortium enrollment, mobile testing, and expert guidance—so you can focus on the road ahead.
📞 Call us today (530)539-3038 or visit our Marysville office at 201 D St Ste C
Send a message to learn more