The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that the minimum random drug and alcohol testing rates for safety-sensitive aviation employees will remain unchanged for calendar year 2026.
The FAA Administrator’s decision on annual testing rates is driven by industry-wide testing data, as outlined in14 CFR Part 120.
For drug testing,14 CFR 120.109(b)establishes that the Administrator bases rate decisions on the reported random drug test positive rate across the entire aviation industry. If that rate remains below 1.00%, the Administrator may continue the minimum random drug testing rate at 25%.
According to the FAA notice, the 2024 random drug test positive rate was0.816%, well below the threshold that would trigger an increase.
Similarly,14 CFR 120.217(c)governs alcohol testing rates. The decision hinges on the random alcohol test violation rate. If that rate stays below 0.50%, the Administrator may continue the minimum random alcohol testing rate at 10%.
The 2024 random alcohol test violation rate came in at0.131%, significantly below the threshold.
These favorable industry numbers allow aviation employers to maintain their current testing protocols without rate increases for 2026.
Who Must Comply
The 25% drug and 10% alcohol random testing rates apply to all employers and employees regulated under 14 CFR Part 120. This encompasses:
Part 121 air carriers conducting scheduled passenger and cargo operations
Part 135 air taxi and commuter operators
Part 145 repair stations
Other entities with employees performing safety-sensitive aviation functions
Safety-sensitive positions include flight crewmembers, flight attendants, flight instructors, aircraft dispatchers, aircraft maintenance and preventive maintenance personnel, ground security coordinators, aviation screeners, and air traffic controllers.
If your organization falls under FAA jurisdiction, your drug and alcohol testing program must achieve these minimum random testing rates across the calendar year.
MaintainingCompliancein 2026
Meeting the 25% drug and 10% alcohol thresholds requires systematic random selection processes that are scientifically valid, properly documented, and spread throughout the year. Every covered employee must have an equal chance of selection during each testing period.
Aviation employers must also ensure their programs address all required testing categories beyond randoms:
Pre-employment drug testing
Post-accident testing when FAA criteria are met
Reasonable suspicion testing when trained supervisors observe signs of impairment
Return-to-duty testing following violations
Follow-up testing as directed by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)
Documentation is critical. Your records must demonstrate that selections were random, notifications were provided, tests were completed within required timeframes, and results were properly reviewed by a qualified Medical Review Officer (MRO).
For organizations managing contractors or multiple entities under their drug and alcohol program, ensuring all covered employees are included in appropriate testing pools adds another layer of complexity.
TheRoleofSupervisor Training
FAA regulations require that supervisors who may need to make reasonable suspicion determinations receive properdrug and alcohol recognition training. This training must cover the physical, behavioral, and performance indicators of probable drug use and alcohol misuse.
If your supervisors have not completed this training, or if certifications have lapsed, addressing this gap should be a priority before the new year begins. AZC Drug Testing offers both online and classroom-based supervisor training programs that meet DOT requirements.
How azcdt.com Supports FAA Compliance
AZC Drug Testing provides turnkeyFAA Part 120 compliance servicesfor air carriers, repair stations, and aviation service providers nationwide.
Our comprehensive program includes:
Immediate enrollment and membership certificates
All random drug and alcohol testing included in your annual fee
Quarterly random selections managed and documented
Contractor oversight support for organizations managing multiple entities
MIS guidance and annual statistical reporting
Laboratory and Medical Review Officer services
Access to over 10,000 collection sites across the country
Complete audit support and documentation packages
We also serve employers regulated by other DOT modes, including FMCSA, FRA, FTA, PHMSA, and USCG. If your organization operates across multiple modes, we can manage distinct pools and rate requirements under a single compliance partnership.
Learn More on Our Podcast
Curious about how random testing programs actually work? Tune in toTalking the Wiz Quiz: An HR Guide to Drug Testing, hosted by Gary and Lori Oschmann of AZC Drug Testing.
Episode 2: Understanding Random Drug Testing + Consortiumsexplains the mechanics of random selection pools, the role of Consortium/Third-Party Administrators (C/TPAs), and how employers can simplify compliance while staying audit-ready.
Whether you are new to DOT compliance or a seasoned HR professional, this podcast delivers practical insights in plain English.
When it comes to choosing aDOT drug and alcohol testing consortium, the decision can feel overwhelming. With so many third-party administrators available, how do you know which one will truly protect your business and keep you compliant with federal regulations?
In this video, Gary Oschmann, President and Founder ofAZC Drug Testing, breaks down exactly what sets AZC apart from the competition—and why thousands of transportation professionals across the country trust us with their compliance needs.
The answer comes down to three fundamental pillars: compliance,service, andvalue. Let’s explore each one in detail.
Compliance Built on Decades of Industry Experience
Gary Oschmann founded AZC Drug Testing (originally The Oschmann Organization) in 1996 with a singular focus: keeping clients in full compliance with Department of Transportation regulations. That mission hasn’t changed in nearly three decades.
When you partner with AZC Drug Testing, you’re working with a team that has built its consortium programs from the ground up around the specific requirements of each DOT modal agency. Whether you’re regulated by FMCSA, FAA, FRA, FTA, PHMSA, or USCG, we understand the nuances of each agency’s requirements under 49 CFR Part 40.
Complete Documentation You Can Count On
One of the most common compliance gaps we see with other consortium providers is incomplete documentation. At AZC Drug Testing, we ensure you receive every report and record required to demonstrate compliance during a DOT audit, including selection letters for every random draw (whether your employees were selected or not), complete lists showing which employees were included in each random selection pool, and an annual consortium summary demonstrating that your random testing program met all federal requirements.
These aren’t just nice-to-have documents—they’re essential records that DOT auditors will request. By participating in our consortium, you satisfy the random testing requirements established by your applicable modal agency, and we provide the documentation to prove it.
Responsive Service When You Need It Most
Unlike many competitors who operate as little more than collection sites,AZC Drug Testingprovides genuine, responsive customer service. As Gary puts it simply: “We answer our phones.”
This might sound basic, but anyone who has tried to reach their consortium provider during a DOT audit knows how valuable responsive communication truly is. Our team is here to assist you with DOT audits and compliance reviews—we’ll help you prepare and can quickly reproduce any documentation you need. We provide prompt answers to your compliance questions, and if our staff doesn’t know the answer immediately, we’ll research it and get back to you. When necessary, we will obtain official interpretations directly from DOT agencies on your behalf.
Our expertise isn’t just theoretical. WithDATIA accreditation, BBB Ethics Award recognition, and founding membership in the National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association, AZC Drug Testing has demonstrated its commitment to the highest professional standards in the industry.
Transparent, Predictable Value
Perhaps the most significant differentiator between AZC Drug Testing and our competitors is our pricing model. We’ve structured our consortium membership to include all random testing in one flat annual fee.
Why This Matters for Your Business
Many consortium providers advertise low membership fees but then charge you separately for every random test. This creates a problematic incentive: the more your employees get selected for random testing, the more money they make. Some providers overdraw their pools to maximize revenue at your expense.
At AZC Drug Testing, our flat-fee model eliminates this conflict of interest. You can budget accurately for your annual compliance costs without surprise charges, and we have no financial motivation to overdraw our consortium pools.
Competitive Non-Random Testing Rates
Beyond random testing, our pricing for non-random drug and alcohol tests is below what most competitors charge. Pre-employment drug screens, reasonable suspicion tests, post-accident tests, and return-to-duty testing are all available at competitive rates through our extensive national collection site network.
Ready to Experience the AZC Difference?
Choosing the right consortium is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your DOT compliance program. With AZC Drug Testing, you get nearly 30 years of compliance expertise built into every service we provide, genuine customer service from knowledgeable professionals who answer your calls, and transparent pricing that lets you budget with confidence.
Whether you’re an owner-operator needing consortium membership or a fleet manager seeking comprehensive compliance solutions, AZC Drug Testing is ready to help you protect your business and stay compliant with all DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations.
Hi, I’m Gary Oschmann. I’m the president of AZC Drug Testing. I sometimes get asked why is AZC Drug Testing the best consortium for you? And the answer really is threefold: compliance, service, and value.
From a compliance standpoint, I started off in the transportation safety industry many years ago, and I built our consortiums and our programs around keeping our clients in compliance with the various DOT modal agencies regulations. We make sure we supply our clients with all the reports that they need to stay in compliance with their drug testing program.
That is from making sure that you get a selection letter for every draw, whether your employees were selected or not. That is making sure that we can supply a list of who from your company was included in every random selection and also making sure that we send out an annual summary of the consortium showing that it was in compliance because the consortium takes the place of the consortium requirement for the various modal agencies random testing requirements.
Now, from a service standpoint, we answer our phones. We’re there to help you, assist you with your various DOT audits. If you need documents reproduced, we can do so very quickly for you. If you have questions, we are here to answer your questions. If my staff doesn’t know the answer, we will do the research for you and get back with you. If that means we have to get an interpretation from one of the DOT agencies, we will do that for you.
Also, from a value standpoint, we built our pricing modules to include all the random testing in the price. That way you can budget for what that random program’s going to cost you every year, and we don’t have the motivation that some of our competitors have to overdraw our consortiums. The price of our non-random drug and alcohol test is below what most of our competitors charge.
We hope that you join us and we look forward to working with you.
AZC Drug Testing has been Arizona’s trusted leader in drug and alcohol testing services for over 25 years.Learn more about our companyand our commitment to compliance excellence.
