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1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE

September 2010

3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

Final Report

January 2007–December 2008

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Drug and Alcohol Testing Results 2008 Annual Report

5. FUNDING NUMBERS

HVP51/VT73A2

6. AUTHOR(S)

Mike Redington, Eve Rutyna, Nathan Grace*, and Felicity Shanahan*

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

U.S. Department of Transportation

Research and Innovative Technology Administration

John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

55 Broadway

Cambridge, MA 02142-1093

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION 

REPORT NUMBER

DOT-VNTSC-FTA-10-01

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Transit Administration

Office of Safety and Security

Washington, DC 20590

10. SPONSORING/MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

FTA-MA-26-5566-10-1 

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

*MacroSys Research and Technology

55 Broadway

Cambridge, MA 02142-1093

12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information 

Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

This is the 14th annual report of the results of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Drug and Alcohol Testing 

Program. This report summarizes the reporting requirements for calendar year 2008, the requirements of the overall 

drug and alcohol testing program (49 CFR Part 40 and 49 CFR Part 655), the results from the data reported for 2008, 

and the random drug and alcohol violation rates (the percentage of persons selected for a random test who produced a 

positive specimen or refused to take the test) for calendar years 1995 through 2008. 

This report provides a brief overview of the drug and alcohol testing requirements for both safety-sensitive employers 

and employees. The official random rates for 2008 are provided, as well as the official random rate trends over the last

14 years. The results of alcohol and drug tests are provided by test type, employee category, and region. The positive 

testing rates for drugs and alcohol are also provided for each test type, employee category, and region. 

14. SUBJECT TERMS

Alcohol testing, drug testing, random testing, safety-sensitive, violation rate

15. NUMBER OF PAGES

76

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OF REPORT

Unclassified

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OF THIS PAGE

Unclassified

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Unlimited

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ii 

METRIC/ENGLISH CONVERSION FACTORS 

ENGLISH TO METRIC METRIC TO ENGLISH

LENGTH (APPROXIMATE) LENGTH (APPROXIMATE) 

1 inch (in) = 2.5 centimeters (cm) 1 millimeter (mm) = 0.04 inch (in) 

1 foot (ft) = 30 centimeters (cm) 1 centimeter (cm) = 0.4 inch (in) 

1 yard (yd) = 0.9 meter (m) 1 meter (m) = 3.3 feet (ft) 

1 mile (mi) = 1.6 kilometers (km) 1 meter (m) = 1.1 yards (yd) 

 1 kilometer (km) = 0.6 mile (mi)

AREA (APPROXIMATE) AREA (APPROXIMATE) 

1 square inch (sq in, in2) = 6.5 square centimeters 

(cm2

) 

1 square centimeter (cm2

) = 0.16 square inch (sq in, in2) 

1 square foot (sq ft, ft2) = 0.09 square meter (m2) 1 square meter (m2) = 1.2 square yards (sq yd, 

yd2

) 

1 square yard (sq yd, yd2) = 0.8 square meter (m2) 1 square kilometer (km2) = 0.4 square mile (sq mi, mi2) 

1 square mile (sq mi, mi2) = 2.6 square kilometers 

(km2

) 

10,000 square meters (m2

) = 1 hectare (ha) = 2.5 acres 

1 acre = 0.4 hectare (he) = 4,000 square meters (m2) 

MASS - WEIGHT (APPROXIMATE) MASS - WEIGHT (APPROXIMATE) 

1 ounce (oz) = 28 grams (gm) 1 gram (gm) = 0.036 ounce (oz) 

1 pound (lb) = 0.45 kilogram (kg) 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb) 

1 short ton = 2,000 pounds 

(lb) 

= 0.9 tonne (t) 1 tonne (t) =

=

1,000 kilograms (kg) 

1.1 short tons

VOLUME (APPROXIMATE) VOLUME (APPROXIMATE) 

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 milliliters (ml) 1 milliliter (ml) = 0.03 fluid ounce (fl oz) 

1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15 milliliters (ml) 1 liter (l) = 2.1 pints (pt) 

1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 30 milliliters (ml) 1 liter (l) = 1.06 quarts (qt) 

1 cup (c) = 0.24 liter (l) 1 liter (l) = 0.26 gallon (gal) 

1 pint (pt) = 0.47 liter (l) 

 1 quart (qt) = 0.96 liter (l) 

1 gallon (gal) = 3.8 liters (l) 

1 cubic foot (cu ft, ft3) = 0.03 cubic meter (m3) 1 cubic meter (m3) = 36 cubic feet (cu ft, ft3) 

1 cubic yard (cu yd, yd3) = 0.76 cubic meter (m3) 1 cubic meter (m3) = 1.3 cubic yards (cu yd, yd3)

TEMPERATURE (EXACT) TEMPERATURE (EXACT) 

[(x-32)(5/9)] °F = y °C [(9/5) y + 32] °C = x °F

QUICK INCH - CENTIMETER LENGTH CONVERSION

0 1 2 34 5

Inches

Centimeters 01 3 2 6 11 4 5 7 13 8 9 10 12

QUICK FAHRENHEIT - CELSIUS TEMPERATURE CONVERSION

 -40° -22° -4° 14° 32° 50° 68° 86° 104° 122° 140° 158° 176° 194° 212°

 

°F

 °C -40° -30° -20° -10° 0° 10° 20° 30° 40° 50° 60° 70° 80° 90° 100°

For more exact and or other conversion factors, see NIST Miscellaneous Publication 286, Units of Weights and 

Measures. Price $2.50 SD Catalog No. C13 10286 Updated 6/17/98
iii

Table of Contents

1. Testing Requirements........................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Required Testing Program.............................................................................................. 1

1.2 Regions Required to Test................................................................................................ 1

1.3 Covered Employees and Employers............................................................................... 2

2. Random Drug and Alcohol Rates........................................................................................ 5

2.1 Official Random Rates for 2008..................................................................................... 5

2.2 Calculating Positive Rates and Violation Rates.............................................................. 5

2.3 Positive Rates and Violation Rates for 2008 .................................................................. 6

3. Drug Test Results.................................................................................................................. 9

3.1 Drug Test Results by Test Type...................................................................................... 9

3.1.1 Pre-employment Drug Test Results........................................................................ 9

3.1.2 Random Drug Test Results................................................................................... 10

3.1.3 Post-Accident Drug Test Results.......................................................................... 11

3.1.4 Reasonable Suspicion Drug Test Results ............................................................. 12

3.1.5 Return-to-Duty Drug Test Results........................................................................ 13

3.1.6 Follow-up Drug Test Results................................................................................ 14

3.1.7 Drug Test Results by Test Type for All Employee Categories ............................ 15

3.2 Drug Test Results by Employee Category.................................................................... 16

3.2.1 Revenue Vehicle Operation .................................................................................. 16

3.2.2 Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance .................................................... 17

3.2.3 Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch....................................................................... 18

3.2.4 CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle.................................................................................. 19

3.2.5 Armed Security Personnel .................................................................................... 20

3.2.6 Drug Test Results for All Employee Categories................................................... 21

4. Drug Test Results by Region.............................................................................................. 23

4.1 Drug Test Results for Transit Employers and Contractors........................................... 26

4.2 Drug Results by Type for Each Region for 2008 ......................................................... 28

4.3 Verified Positives for Contractors and Transit Systems............................................... 31

4.4 Verified Positives by Employee Category for Drug Type Detected............................. 32

4.5 Verified Positives for Drug Type and Type of Test Conducted ................................... 32
iv

Table of Contents (continued)

5. Alcohol Test Results............................................................................................................ 33

5.1 Alcohol Test Results by Test Type and Employee Category ....................................... 33

5.1.1 Pre-employment Alcohol Test Results................................................................. 33

5.1.2 Random Alcohol Test Results .............................................................................. 34

5.1.3 Post-Accident Alcohol Test Results..................................................................... 35

5.1.4 Reasonable Suspicion Alcohol Test Results......................................................... 36

5.1.5 Return-to-Duty Alcohol Test Results................................................................... 37

5.1.6 Follow-up Alcohol Test Results........................................................................... 38

5.2 Alcohol Test Results for All Employee Categories...................................................... 39

5.3 Alcohol Results by Employee Category....................................................................... 39

5.3.1 Ferry Boat Operator.............................................................................................. 41

5.3.2 Alcohol Test Results for All Employee Categories.............................................. 42

5.4 Alcohol Test Results for All Test Types by Employee Category................................. 42

5.4.1 Alcohol Test Results for All Test Types by Region............................................. 46

5.5 Transit Employer and Contractor Alcohol Test Results............................................... 47

5.6 Alcohol Test Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type................................ 48
v

List of Figures

Figure 1. The Ten FTA Regions Required to Test for Drugs and Alcohol ................................... 2

Figure 2. Positive Rate for Random Drug Tests (1995–2008) ...................................................... 5

Figure 3. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Tests (1995–2008) ............................................... 6

Figure 4. Random Drug Positive Rates by FTA Region (2008).................................................... 6

Figure 5. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Testing by FTA Region (2008)............................ 7

Figure 6. Random Drug Positive Rate for Contractors and Transit Systems (2008)..................... 7

Figure 7. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Testing for Contractors and 

Transit Systems (2008)................................................................................................... 8

Figure 8. Positive rate for Pre-employment Drug Tests by Employee Category (2008)............... 9

Figure 9. Positive Rate for Random Drug Tests by Employee Category .................................... 10

Figure 10. Positive Rate for Post-Accident Drug Tests by Employee Category......................... 11

Figure 11. Positive Rate for Reasonable Suspicion Drug Tests by Employee Category ............ 12

Figure 12. Positive Rate for Return-to-Duty Drug Tests by Employee Category....................... 13

Figure 13. Positive Rate for Follow-up Drug Tests by Employee Category............................... 14

Figure 14. Positive Rate for All Employee Categories by Test Type.......................................... 15

Figure 15. Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle Operation by Test Type...................................... 16

Figure 16. Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance by Test Type....... 17

Figure 17. Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch by Test Type .......................... 18

Figure 18. Positive Rate for CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle by Test Type ..................................... 19

Figure 19. Positive Rate for Armed Security Personnel by Test Type........................................ 20

Figure 20. Positive Rate for All Test Types by Employee Category........................................... 21

Figure 21. Percentage of Verified Positives for Drug Type by Type of Test.............................. 22

Figure 22. Drug Positive Rates for Transit and Contractor Employers by Region ..................... 28

Figure 23. Percent of Verified Positives for Marijuana by Region ............................................. 28

Figure 24. Percent of Total Verified Positives for Cocaine by Region ....................................... 29

Figure 25. Percent of Total Verified Positives for PCP by Region ............................................. 29

Figure 26. Percent of Total Verified Positives for Opiates by Region ........................................ 30

Figure 27. Percent of Total Verified Positives for Amphetamines by Region ............................ 30

Figure 28. Percent of Total Test Refusals by Region .................................................................. 31

Figure 29. Total Verified Positives for Five Drug Types among Contractors and 

Transit Systems........................................................................................................... 31
vi 

List of Figures (continued) 

Figure 30. Percent of Verified Positives by Employee Category for Each Drug Type ............... 32

Figure 31. Percentage of Verified Positives for Drug Type by Test Type .................................. 32

Figure 32. Positive Rate for Pre-employment Tests by Employee Category .............................. 33

Figure 33. Positive Rate for Random Tests by Employee Category ........................................... 34

Figure 34. Positive Rate for Post-Accident Tests by Employee Category .................................. 35

Figure 35. Positive Rate for Reasonable Suspicion Tests by Employee Category ...................... 36

Figure 36. Positive Rate for Return-to-Duty Tests by Employee Category ................................ 37

Figure 37. Positive Rate for Follow-up Tests by Employee Category ........................................ 38

Figure 38. Violation Rate for All Test Types by Region ............................................................. 46

Figure 39. Violation Rate for Contractors and Transit Systems for All Test Types 

by Region .................................................................................................................... 48

Figure 40. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Tests by Region ................................................ 52
vii

List of Tables

Table 1. Safety-Sensitive Employee Categories, Test Types, and Drug Types ............................ 1

Table 2. States and Territories by Region...................................................................................... 2

Table 3. Number of Covered Employees and Employers by Region (2008) ................................ 3

Table 4. Covered Employees by Employee Category (2008)........................................................ 3

Table 5. Pre-employment Drug Test Results by Employee Categories......................................... 9

Table 6. Random Drug Test Results by Employee Categories.................................................... 10

Table 7. Post-Accident Drug Test Results by Employee Categories........................................... 11

Table 8. Reasonable Suspicion Drug Test Results by Employee Categories.............................. 12

Table 9. Return-to-Duty Drug Test Results for All Employee Categories.................................. 13

Table 10. Follow-up Drug Test Results for All Employee Categories........................................ 14

Table 11. Drug Test Results by Test Type for All Employee Categories ................................... 15

Table 12. Drug Test Results for Revenue Vehicle Operation ..................................................... 16

Table 13. Drug Test Results for Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance ....................... 17

Table 14. Drug Test Results for Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch.......................................... 18

Table 15. Drug Test Results for CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle ..................................................... 19

Table 16. Drug Test Results for Armed Security Personnel........................................................ 20

Table 17. Drug Test Results for All Test Types by Employee Category .................................... 21

Table 18. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 1..................................................... 23

Table 19. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 2..................................................... 23

Table 20. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 3..................................................... 24

Table 21. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 4..................................................... 24

Table 22. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 5..................................................... 24

Table 23. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 6..................................................... 25

Table 24. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 7..................................................... 25

Table 25. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 8..................................................... 25

Table 26. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 9..................................................... 26

Table 27. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 10................................................... 26

Table 28. Drug Test Results for Transit Employers by Region................................................... 27

Table 29. Drug Test Results for Contractors by Region.............................................................. 27

Table 30. Pre-employment Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category .................................. 33

Table 31. Random Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category ............................................... 34
viii

List of Tables (continued)

Table 32. Post-Accident Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category ...................................... 35

Table 33. Reasonable Suspicion Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category.......................... 36

Table 34. Return-to-Duty Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category .................................... 37

Table 35. Follow-up Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category ............................................ 38

Table 36. Alcohol Test Results for All Test Types ..................................................................... 39

Table 37. Alcohol Results for Revenue Vehicle Operation by Test Type................................... 39

Table 38. Alcohol Results for Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance by Test Type..... 40

Table 39. Alcohol Results for Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch by Test Type ....................... 40

Table 40. Alcohol Results for CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle by Test Type .................................. 40

Table 41. Alcohol Results for Armed Security Personnel by Test Type..................................... 41

Table 42. Alcohol Results for Ferry Boat Operator for Random Test......................................... 41

Table 43. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type....................................... 42

Table 44. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 1............. 42

Table 45. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 2............. 43

Table 46. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 3............. 43

Table 47. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 4............. 43

Table 48. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 5............. 44

Table 49. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 6............. 44

Table 50. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 7............. 44

Table 51. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 8............. 45

Table 52. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 9............. 45

Table 53. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 10........... 45

Table 54. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories and Test Types by Region.................. 46

Table 55. Alcohol Results for Transit Employers for All Test Types by Region ....................... 47

Table 56. Alcohol Results for Contractors for All Test Types by Region .................................. 47

Table 57. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 1......... 48

Table 58. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 2......... 49

Table 59. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 3......... 49

Table 60. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 4......... 49

Table 61. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 5......... 50

Table 62. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 6......... 50
ix

List of Tables (continued)

Table 63. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 7......... 50

Table 64. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 8......... 51

Table 65. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 9......... 51

Table 66. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 10....... 51

1

1. Testing Requirements

1.1 Required Testing Program

Safety-sensitive employees must undergo testing for five illegal substances with the use of six 

different test types. Employees who perform safety-sensitive functions must also be tested for 

alcohol use in each of those test types, except for pre-employment testing. Employers are 

required to conduct four types of tests of employees who perform safety-sensitive functions and 

are permitted to conduct two other types of tests for drugs and alcohol (return-to-duty and 

follow-up).

Table 1 lists the employee categories, test types, and drug types that fall under the auspices of the 

FTA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. For more detailed descriptions of each of these 

categories, refer to the glossary in Appendix C. You may also refer to FTA and DOT drug and 

alcohol regulations on the FTA Office of Safety and Security Web site at http://transitsafety.fta.dot.gov/DrugAndAlcohol/Regulations/default.asp. For additional guidance, another 

excellent source is the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) Web site

http://www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/index.html.

Table 1. Safety-Sensitive Employee Categories, Test Types, and Drug Types

Safety-Sensitive Employee Categories

• Revenue Vehicle Operation

• Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance

• Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch

• CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle

• Armed Security Personnel

• Ferry Boat Operator

Test Types

• Pre-employment

• Random

• Post-Accident

• Reasonable Suspicion

• Return-to-Duty

• Follow-up

Drug Types

• Marijuana

• Cocaine

• Phencyclidine (PCP)

• Opiates

• Amphetamines

1.2 Regions Required to Test

The FTA comprises 10 regions, which are identified in Figure 1. The data provided by these 

regions have facilitated the comparison of drug and alcohol test results and the identification of 

regional trends. Table 2 lists the states and territories in each FTA region. 
2

Figure 1. The Ten FTA Regions Required to Test for Drugs and Alcohol

Table 2. States and Territories by Region

Region States

1 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, 

Vermont

2 New Jersey, New York, U.S. Virgin Islands

3 Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West 

Virginia

4 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South 

Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico

5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

6 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

8 Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

9 American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern 

Mariana Islands

10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

1.3 Covered Employees and Employers

A covered employee is any person, including an applicant, transferee, or volunteer, who 

performs or will perform a safety-sensitive function for an entity subject to Title 49 Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 655. A covered employer is a recipient or other entity that 

provides a mass transportation service or performs a safety-sensitive function for such recipient 

or other entity. This includes Section 5311 State Nonurban subrecipients, Section 5307 

Urbanized Area Formula grantees, Section 5309 Major Capital Investment recipients, and 

contractors. Table 3 provides a list of the number of covered employees and employers in each 

FTA region for 2008. Table 4 provides the number of covered employees by employee category

for 2008. 
3

Table 3. Number of Covered Employees and Employers by Region (2008)

Region Number of Covered Employees Number of Covered Employers

1 13,386 205

2 54,780 192

3 32,582 189

4 33,407 572

5 41,707 698

6 18,681 218

7 9,936 327

8 9,298 204

9 47,750 394

10 16,013 217

Total 277,540 3,216

Table 4. Covered Employees by Employee Category (2008)

Employee Category Number of Covered Employees

Revenue Vehicle Operation 192,318

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 52,882

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 20,150

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 4,989

Armed Security Personnel 5,585

Ferry Boat Operator 1,897

5

2. Random Drug and Alcohol Rates

2.1 Official Random Rates for 2008

The random testing rate for drugs in 2008 was equal to at least 25 percent of the total number of 

safety-sensitive employees. For random alcohol tests in 2008, the testing rate was equal to 10 

percent of the total number of safety-sensitive employees. The random positive rate for drugs for 

the years 1995 to 2008 is shown in Figure 2. The positive rate (drugs) increased slightly to 0.82 

percent in 2008 from 0.81 percent recorded for calendar year 2007. Figure 3 shows the random 

violation rate for alcohol for the years 1995 to 2008. The violation rate (alcohol) remained static 

at 0.15 percent when compared with the recorded rate for calendar year 2007. 

2.2 Calculating Positive Rates and Violation Rates 

The positive rate for drugs is calculated by taking the total number of verified positive tests,

adding the total number of adulterated samples plus the total number of substituted specimens, 

shy bladder instances (those without medical explanation), and other refusals, and dividing by 

the total number of drug test results. The violation rate for alcohol is calculated by taking the 

total number of confirmatory test results greater than or equal to a breath alcohol level of 0.04, 

adding the total number of shy lung instances (those without medical explanation) plus the total 

number of other refusals, and dividing by the total number of screens conducted.

1.76%

1.60%

1.27%

1.20% 1.14% 1.05%

0.89%

1.03%

0.96% 0.89%

0.79% 0.79%

0.81% 0.82%

0

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.01

0.012

0.014

0.016

0.018

0.02

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001* 2002* 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Drug - Random Positive Rate

Positive Rate

*Denotes a stratified sample year.

Figure 2. Positive Rate for Random Drug Tests (1995–2008)
6

0.25%

0.21%

0.19%

0.22%

0.18%

0.15%

0.19%

0.17%

0.11% 0.11% 0.12% 0.13%

0.15% 0.15%

0

0.0005

0.001

0.0015

0.002

0.0025

0.003

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001* 2002* 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Alcohol - Random Violation Rate

Violation Rate

*Denotes a stratified sample year.

Figure 3. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Tests (1995–2008)

2.3 Positive Rates and Violation Rates for 2008

Figure 4 illustrates the random drug positive rates for the year 2008 for each region. Figure 5 

illustrates the violation rate for random alcohol testing for the year 2008 for each region. Figure 

6 provides the positive rate for random drug testing for contractors and transit systems for the 

year 2008. Figure 7 provides the violation rate for random alcohol tests for contractors and 

transit systems for the year 2008. 

1.00%

0.68%

0.92%

0.70%

0.91%

1.11%

1.02%

1.21%

0.74% 0.69%

0.00%

0.20%

0.40%

0.60%

0.80%

1.00%

1.20%

1.40%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

2008 Random Drug Positive Rate

Figure 4. Random Drug Positive Rates by FTA Region (2008)
7

0.07% 0.09%

0.18%

0.10%

0.15% 0.15%

0.08%

0.33%

0.26%

0.10%

0.00%

0.05%

0.10%

0.15%

0.20%

0.25%

0.30%

0.35%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

2008 Violation Rate - Random Alcohol Testing

Figure 5. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Testing by FTA Region (2008)

0.67%

1.24%

0.00%

0.20%

0.40%

0.60%

0.80%

1.00%

1.20%

1.40%

Employer Type

2008 Random Drug Positive Rate

Transit Systems

Contractors

Figure 6. Random Drug Positive Rate for Contractors and Transit Systems (2008)
8

0.13%

0.18%

0.00%

0.21%

Employer Type

2008 Violation Rate - Random Alcohol Testing

Transit Systems

Contractors

Figure 7. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Testing for Contractors and 

Transit Systems (2008)
9

3. Drug Test Results

3.1 Drug Test Results by Test Type

This section provides drug test results by test type conducted and for each employee category. 

3.1.1 Pre-employment Drug Test Results

Table 5 provides results of pre-employment drug tests for all employee categories. Figure 8

illustrates the positive rate by employee category for all pre-employment drug tests. 

Table 5. Pre-employment Drug Test Results by Employee Categories

Employee 

Category

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 75,571 73,871 1578 1,184 305 46 22 50 9 5 7 101 157

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maintenance

8,158 8,000 154 115 32 3 2 12 0 0 1 3 13

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 3,034 2,985 44 38 5 0 0 2 0 1 1 3 9

CDL/NonRevenue Vehicle 833 823 9 7 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

Armed Security 

Personnel 1,551 1547 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 89,147 87,226 1,789 1,348 344 49 25 64 9 6 9 108 180

2.25%

1.94%

1.62%

1.20%

0.26%

2.15%

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle

Armed Security 

Personnel

All Employee 

Categories

Employee Category

Positive Rate for Pre-employment Drug Test

Figure 8. Positive rate for Pre-employment Drug Tests by Employee Category (2008)
10

3.1.2 Random Drug Test Results

Table 6 provides results of random drug tests for all employee categories. Figure 9 illustrates the 

positive rate by employee category for all random drug tests.

Table 6. Random Drug Test Results by Employee Categories

Employee 

Category

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substitut

Cancelled Tests

ed

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 67,435 66,858 506 314 170 1 9 21 4 2 17 48 155

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maintenance

18,240 18,086 140 90 41 3 4 9 0 2 2 10 26

Revenue Vehicle

Control/Dispatch 6,904 6,853 48 34 12 0 3 1 1 0 0 2 15

CDL/NonRevenue Vehicle 1,995 1,977 17 6 11 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6

Armed Security 

Personnel 1,703 1,699 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

TOTAL 96,277 95,473 715 448 234 4 16 31 5 4 20 60 204

0.86% 0.84%

0.74%

0.90%

0.23%

0.82%

0.00%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.40%

0.50%

0.60%

0.70%

0.80%

0.90%

1.00%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle

Armed Security 

Personnel

All Employee 

Categories

Employee Category

Positive Rate for Random Drug Test

Figure 9. Positive Rate for Random Drug Tests by Employee Category
11

3.1.3 Post-Accident Drug Test Results

Table 7 provides results of post-accident drug tests for all employee categories. Figure 10

illustrates the positive rate by employee category for all post-accident drug tests.

Table 7. Post-Accident Drug Test Results by Employee Categories

Employee 

Category

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 13,630 13,463 155 77 63 1 7 12 0 0 1 11 37

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maintenance

578 566 12 10 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 102 102 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

CDL/NonRevenue Vehicle 76 75 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security 

Personnel 84 84 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

TOTAL 14,470 14,290 168 87 64 1 10 12 0 0 1 11 39

1.23%

2.08%

0.00%

1.32%

0.00%

1.24%

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle

Armed Security 

Personnel

All Employee 

Categories

Employee Category

Positive Rate for Post-Accident Drug Test

Figure 10. Positive Rate for Post-Accident Drug Tests by Employee Category
12

3.1.4 Reasonable Suspicion Drug Test Results

Table 8 provides results of reasonable suspicion drug tests for all employee categories. Figure 

11 illustrates the positive rate by employee category for all reasonable suspicion drug tests.

Table 8. Reasonable Suspicion Drug Test Results by Employee Categories

Employee 

Category

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder”

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 443 395 37 15 18 0 3 4 1 0 1 9 2

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maintenance

86 77 6 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 25 21 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4

CDL/NonRevenue Vehicle 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security 

Personnel 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 561 500 45 19 20 1 4 4 1 0 2 13 6

10.84% 10.47%

16.00%

0.00% 0.00%

10.87%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

18.00%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle

Armed Security 

Personnel

All Employee 

Categories

Employee Category

Positive Rate for Reasonable Suspicion Drug Test

Figure 11. Positive Rate for Reasonable Suspicion Drug Tests by Employee Category
13

3.1.5 Return-to-Duty Drug Test Results

Table 9 provides results of return-to-duty drug tests for all employee categories. Figure 12

illustrates the positive rate by employee category for all return-to-duty drug tests.

Table 9. Return-to-Duty Drug Test Results for All Employee Categories

Employee 

Category

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 544 532 10 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maintenance

139 137 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 51 51 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/NonRevenue Vehicle 21 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security 

Personnel 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 760 746 12 10 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3

2.21%

1.44%

0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

1.84%

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle

Armed Security 

Personnel

All Employee 

Categories

Employee Category

Positive Rate for Return-to-Duty Drug Test

Figure 12. Positive Rate for Return-to-Duty Drug Tests by Employee Category
14

3.1.6 Follow-up Drug Test Results

Table 10 provides results of follow-up drug tests for all employee categories. Figure 13

illustrates the positive rate by employee category for all follow-up drug tests.

Table 10. Follow-up Drug Test Results for All Employee Categories

Employee 

Category

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 3,942 3,889 46 19 21 0 1 5 0 0 3 4 5

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment 

Maintenance

1,786 1,762 23 9 14 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 249 247 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 117 113 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Armed Security 

Personnel 33 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 6,127 6,044 75 29 40 0 2 5 0 0 4 4 6

1.34% 1.34%

0.80%

3.42%

0.00%

1.35%

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle

Armed Security 

Personnel

All Employee 

Categories

Employee Category

Positive Rate for Follow-up Drug Test

Figure 13. Positive Rate for Follow-up Drug Tests by Employee Category
15

3.1.7 Drug Test Results by Test Type for All Employee Categories

Table 11 provides drug test results by test type for all employee categories. Figure 14 illustrates 

the positive rate for all employee categories by test type. 

Table 11. Drug Test Results by Test Type for All Employee Categories

Test Type

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 89,147 87,226 1,789 1,348 344 49 25 64 9 6 9 108 180

Random 96,277 95,473 715 448 234 4 16 31 5 4 20 60 204

Post-Accident 14,470 14,290 168 87 64 1 10 12 0 0 1 11 39

Reasonable Suspicion 561 500 45 19 20 1 4 4 1 0 2 13 6

Return-to-Duty 760 746 12 10 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3

Follow-up 6,127 6,044 75 29 40 0 2 5 0 0 4 4 6

TOTAL 207,342 204,279 2,804 1,941 703 55 57 117 15 10 36 198 438

2.15%

0.82% 1.24%

10.87%

1.84% 1.35% 1.48%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reasonable 

Suspicion

Return-to-Duty Follow-up Total

Test Type

Positive Rate for All Employee Categories

Figure 14. Positive Rate for All Employee Categories by Test Type
16

3.2 Drug Test Results by Employee Category

3.2.1 Revenue Vehicle Operation

Table 12 provides drug test results for the revenue vehicle operation employee category. Figure 

15 illustrates the positive rate for each test type under the revenue vehicle operation employee 

category.

Table 12. Drug Test Results for Revenue Vehicle Operation

Test Type

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 75,571 73,871 1578 1,184 305 46 22 50 9 5 7 101 157

Random 67,435 66,858 506 314 170 1 9 21 4 2 17 48 155

Post-Accident 13,630 13,463 155 77 63 1 7 12 0 0 1 11 37

Reasonable Suspicion 443 395 37 15 18 0 3 4 1 0 1 9 2

Return-to-Duty 544 532 10 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3

Follow-up 3,942 3,889 46 19 21 0 1 5 0 0 3 4 5

TOTAL 161,565 159,008 2,332 1,617 578 48 42 93 14 7 29 175 359

2.25%

0.86% 1.23%

10.84%

2.21% 1.34% 1.58%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reasonable 

Suspicion

Return-to-Duty Follow-up Total

Test Type

Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle Operation

Figure 15. Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle Operation by Test Type
17

3.2.2 Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance

Table 13 provides drug test results for the revenue vehicle and equipment maintenance employee 

category by test type. Figure 16 illustrates the positive rate for the revenue vehicle and 

equipment maintenance employee category by test type.

Table 13. Drug Test Results for Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance

Test Type

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Cancelled Tests

Adulterated

Substituted

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 8,158 8,000 154 115 32 3 2 12 0 0 1 3 13

Random 18,240 18,086 140 90 41 3 4 9 0 2 2 10 26

Post-Accident 578 566 12 10 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

Reasonable Suspicion 86 77 6 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0

Return-to-Duty 139 137 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 1,786 17,62 23 9 14 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

TOTAL 28,987 28,628 337 230 89 6 10 21 0 2 5 15 39

1.94%

0.84%

2.08%

10.47%

1.44% 1.34% 1.24%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reasonable 

Suspicion

Return-to-Duty Follow-up Total

Test Type

Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle and Equipment 

Maintenance

Figure 16. Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle 

and Equipment Maintenance by Test Type
18

3.2.3 Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch

Table 14 provides drug test results for the revenue vehicle control/dispatch employee category 

by test type. Figure 17 illustrates the positive rate for the revenue vehicle control/dispatch 

employee category by test type.

Table 14. Drug Test Results for Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch

Test Type

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 3,034 2,985 44 38 5 0 0 2 0 1 1 3 9

Random 6,904 6,853 48 34 12 0 3 1 1 0 0 2 15

Post-Accident 102 102 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Reasonable Suspicion 25 21 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 4

Return-to-Duty 51 51 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 249 247 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 10,365 10,259 96 73 19 1 3 3 1 1 1 7 29

1.62% 0.74% 0.00%

16.00%

0.00% 0.80% 1.02%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

16.00%

18.00%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reasonable 

Suspicion

Return-to-Duty Follow-up Total

Test Type

Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch

Figure 17. Positive Rate for Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch by Test Type
19

3.2.4 CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle

Table 15 provides drug test results for the commercial driver’s license (CDL)/non-revenue 

vehicle employee category by test type. Figure 18 illustrates the positive rate for the CDL/nonrevenue vehicle employee category by test type.

Table 15. Drug Test Results for CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle

Test Type

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 833 823 9 7 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

Random 1,995 1,977 17 6 11 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 6

Post-Accident 76 75 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Reasonable Suspicion 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 21 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 117 113 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

TOTAL 3,047 3,014 31 13 17 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 8

1.20% 0.90%

1.32%

0.00% 0.00%

3.42%

1.08%

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reasonable 

Suspicion

Return-to-Duty Follow-up Total

Test Type

Positive Rate for CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle

Figure 18. Positive Rate for CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle by Test Type
20

3.2.5 Armed Security Personnel

Table 16 provides drug test results for the armed security personnel employee category by test 

type. Figure 19 illustrates the positive rate for the armed security personnel employee category 

by test type.

Table 16. Drug Test Results for Armed Security Personnel

Test Type

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 1,551 1,547 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Random 1,703 1,699 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Post-Accident 84 84 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Reasonable Suspicion 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 33 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 3,378 3,370 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

0.26%

0.23%

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

0.24%

0.00%

0.05%

0.10%

0.15%

0.20%

0.25%

0.30%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reasonable 

Suspicion

Return-to-Duty Follow-up Total

Test Type

Positive Rate for Armed Security Personnel

Figure 19. Positive Rate for Armed Security Personnel by Test Type
21

3.2.6 Drug Test Results for All Employee Categories

Table 17 provides drug test results for all test types by employee category. Figure 20 illustrates 

the positive rate for all test types by employee category. Figure 21 illustrates the positive rate for 

drug type by type of test.

Table 17. Drug Test Results for All Test Types by Employee Category

Employee 

Category

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 161,565 159,008 2,332 1,617 578 48 42 93 14 7 29 175 359

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment 

Maintenance

28,987 28,628 337 230 89 6 10 21 0 2 5 15 39

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 10,365 10,259 96 73 19 1 3 3 1 1 1 7 29

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 3,047 3,014 31 13 17 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 8

Armed Security 

Personnel 3,378 3,370 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

TOTAL 207,342 204,279 2,804 1,941 703 55 57 117 15 10 36 198 438

1.58%

1.24%

1.02% 1.08%

0.24%

1.48%

0.00%

0.20%

0.40%

0.60%

0.80%

1.00%

1.20%

1.40%

1.60%

1.80%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/NonRevenue VehicleArmed Security 

Personnel

All Employee 

Categories

Employee Category

Positive Rate for All Test Types

Figure 20. Positive Rate for All Test Types by Employee Category
22

Figure 21. Percentage of Verified Positives for Drug Type by Type of Test

Percentage of Verified Positives for Drug Type by Test Type 

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reason -Susp R-T-D Follow-up

THC

Cocaine

PCP

Opiates

Amphet
23

4. Drug Test Results by Region

Tables 18 through 27 provide drug test results by test type and drugs detected for FTA Regions 1

through 10. Figure 22 illustrates the random drug positive rate for each region in 2008. 

Table 18. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 1

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 3,458 3,380 74 55 20 2 3 2 0 1 0 3 6

Random 3,907 3,868 37 16 19 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 9

Post-Accident 487 484 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Reasonable Suspicion 26 18 6 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0

Return-to-Duty 23 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 321 316 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Total 8,222 8,089 124 75 45 2 6 4 0 1 1 7 15

Table 19. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 2

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 13,645 13,400 236 175 57 4 3 0 3 3 0 3 14

Random 16,814 16,699 107 56 48 0 4 1 1 0 0 7 31

Post-Accident 2,304 2,276 27 13 14 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 2

Reasonable Suspicion 62 56 6 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1

Return-to-Duty 94 94 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 1,483 1,473 10 5 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 34,402 33,998 386 252 127 4 10 1 4 3 0 11 48
24

Table 20. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 3

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulte

Cancelled Tests

rated

Substituted

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 13,589 13,128 419 312 76 33 7 1 0 0 0 42 32

Random 13,417 13,293 115 77 36 3 2 2 0 1 2 6 28

Post-Accident 1,805 1,776 28 13 13 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 4

Reasonable Suspicion 111 103 6 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1

Return-to-Duty 161 159 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Follow-up 1,061 1,047 14 5 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 30,144 29,506 583 411 136 38 11 3 0 1 2 52 65

Table 21. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 4

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterat

Cancelled Tests

ed

Substituted

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 9,442 9,272 160 115 47 1 0 0 3 0 0 7 21

Random 13,239 13,146 83 51 30 0 1 1 2 0 1 7 20

Post-Accident 2,255 2,234 20 13 5 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 1

Reasonable Suspicion 75 62 10 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

Return-to-Duty 130 128 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Follow-up 303 301 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 25,444 25,143 277 185 90 1 3 2 5 0 1 18 43

Table 22. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 5

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 12,912 12,667 228 177 40 2 3 8 2 0 1 14 31

Random 14,018 13,890 111 79 29 0 2 2 1 2 7 7 31

Post-Accident 2,491 2,450 36 20 13 0 3 1 0 0 1 4 8

Reasonable Suspicion 108 104 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1

Return-to-Duty 145 140 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Follow-up 974 959 13 6 6 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1

Total 30,648 30,210 395 288 89 2 8 12 4 2 11 26 74
25

Table 23. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 6

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 7,401 7,233 148 119 23 3 2 7 1 1 4 14 11

Random 6,477 6,405 63 34 27 1 1 8 0 1 5 3 14

Post-Accident 1,073 1,055 16 9 5 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 9

Reasonable Suspicion 21 19 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 17 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 1,18 109 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0

Total 15,107 14,838 235 164 62 4 4 17 1 2 11 20 34

Table 24. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 7

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 3,580 3,512 59 47 6 0 2 5 0 1 0 8 6

Random 3,329 3,295 30 24 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 3

Post-Accident 562 558 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

Reasonable Suspicion 21 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 11 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 98 96 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total 7,601 7,493 95 75 13 0 3 5 0 1 1 11 12

Table 25. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 8

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 4,231 4,169 60 47 9 0 2 2 0 0 0 2 5

Random 3,460 3,418 37 28 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 16

Post-Accident 322 320 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Reasonable Suspicion 28 26 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Return-to-Duty 37 36 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 265 261 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

Total 8,343 8,230 105 79 23 0 2 2 0 0 1 7 25
26

Table 26. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 9

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 17,005 16,623 370 273 62 4 2 37 0 0 3 9 52

Random 16,896 16,771 106 63 26 0 4 15 0 0 3 16 47

Post-Accident 2,548 2,518 29 9 12 0 0 8 0 0 0 1 11

Reasonable Suspicion 86 71 9 2 4 0 0 3 0 0 1 5 3

Return-to-Duty 108 106 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

Follow-up 1,362 1,341 20 10 5 0 1 4 0 0 0 1 1

Total 38,005 37,430 535 357 109 4 7 68 0 0 7 33 114

Table 27. Drug Test Results by Test Type for FTA Region 10

Test Type

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for 

Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

Pre-employment 3,772 3,730 35 28 4 0 1 2 0 0 1 6 2

Random 4,623 4,591 26 20 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 5 5

Post-Accident 623 619 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Reasonable Suspicion 23 20 3 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 34 32 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 136 135 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Total 9,211 9,127 69 55 9 0 3 3 1 0 1 13 8

4.1 Drug Test Results for Transit Employers and Contractors

Table 28 provides drug test results for transit employers by region. Figure 29 illustrates the 

positive rate for transit employers by region. Table 29 provides drug test results for contractors

by region. Figure 22 illustrates the positive rate for transit systems and contractor employers by 

region. 
27

Table 28. Drug Test Results for Transit Employers by Region

Region

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

1 5,506 5,441 61 37 22 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 6

2 22,621 22,446 168 109 58 0 6 1 0 1 0 6 22

3 18,529 18,310 204 121 67 10 6 2 0 1 2 12 28

4 18,259 18,103 143 85 54 1 3 2 4 0 0 9 21

5 19,489 19,322 148 103 37 1 5 5 1 1 10 7 44

6 11,940 11,756 158 105 46 2 3 15 0 2 10 14 26

7 6,229 6,160 61 47 9 0 2 3 0 1 1 6 7

8 5,068 5,012 50 39 10 0 2 0 0 0 0 6 15

9 18,297 18,120 156 97 37 0 5 21 0 0 6 15 35

10 6,063 6,025 32 23 5 0 2 2 1 0 0 5 7

TOTAL 132,001 130,695 1,181 766 345 14 36 51 6 6 30 83 211

Table 29. Drug Test Results for Contractors by Region

Region

Total Number of 

Test Results

Verified Negative 

Results

Verified Positive 

Results for One or 

More Drugs

Positive for 

Marijuana

Positive for 

Cocaine

Positive for PCP

Positive for Opiates

Positive for 

Amphetamines

Refusals

Adulterated

Substituted

Cancelled Tests

“Shy Bladder” 

with No Medical 

Explanation 

Other Refusals 

to Submit to 

Testing

1 2,716 2,648 63 38 23 2 4 4 0 1 0 4 9

2 11,781 11,552 218 143 69 4 4 0 4 2 0 5 26

3 11,615 11,196 379 290 69 28 5 1 0 0 0 40 37

4 7,185 7,040 134 100 36 0 0 0 1 0 1 9 22

5 11,155 10,884 247 185 52 1 3 7 3 1 1 19 30

6 3,167 3,082 77 59 16 2 1 2 1 0 1 6 8

7 1,372 1,333 34 28 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 5 5

8 3,275 3,218 55 40 13 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 10

9 19,708 19,310 379 260 72 4 2 47 0 0 1 18 79

10 3,148 3,102 37 32 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 8 1

TOTAL 75,122 73,365 1,623 1,175 358 41 21 66 9 4 6 115 227
28

2.50%

1.94%

3.61%

2.02%

2.43%

2.68% 2.84%

1.74%

2.02%

1.46%

1.18%

0.77%

1.18%

0.85% 0.86%

1.54%

1.11% 1.10% 0.97%

0.63%

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

Positive Rate by Region - All Test Types - Transit Systems 

and Contractor

Contractors

Transit

Figure 22. Drug Positive Rates for Transit and Contractor Employers by Region

4.2 Drug Results by Type for Each Region for 2008

Figures 23 through 28 provide data on verified positive drug results by drug type for each FTA 

region. Figure 29 provides the total verified positive test results for five drug types among 

contractors and transit systems. Figure 30 gives the percent of verified positives by employee 

category for each drug type. Figure 31 provides the percentage of verified positives for drug type 

by the type of test conducted. 

56.82%

63.96%

68.61% 65.84%

72.18%

65.34%

78.13% 74.53%

65.50%

78.57%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

THC Positives - Percent of Total Verified Positives

Figure 23. Percent of Verified Positives for Marijuana by Region
29

34.09%

32.23%

22.70%

32.03%

22.31% 24.70%

13.54%

21.70%

20.00%

12.86%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

Cocaine Positives - Percent of Total Verified Positives

Figure 24. Percent of Total Verified Positives for Cocaine by Region

1.52%

1.02%

6.34%

0.36% 0.50%

1.59%

0.00% 0.00%

0.73%

0.00%

0.00%

1.00%

2.00%

3.00%

4.00%

5.00%

6.00%

7.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

PCP Positives - Percent of Total Verified Positives

Figure 25. Percent of Total Verified Positives for PCP by Region
30

4.55%

2.54%

1.84%

1.07%

2.01%

1.59%

3.13%

1.89%

1.28%

4.29%

0.00%

0.50%

1.00%

1.50%

2.00%

2.50%

3.00%

3.50%

4.00%

4.50%

5.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

Opiate Positives - Percent of Total Verified Positives

Figure 26. Percent of Total Verified Positives for Opiates by Region

3.03%

0.25% 0.50% 0.71%

3.01%

6.77%

5.21%

1.89%

12.48%

4.29%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

12.00%

14.00%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

Amphetamine Positives - Percent of Total Verified Positives

Figure 27. Percent of Total Verified Positives for Amphetamines by Region
31

0.18%

0.09%

0.34%

0.15%

0.22%

0.25%

0.36%

0.06%

0.10%

0.29%

0.00%

0.05%

0.10%

0.15%

0.20%

0.25%

0.30%

0.35%

0.40%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

Refusals - Percent of Total Test Results

Figure 28. Percent of Total Test Refusals by Region

4.3 Verified Positives for Contractors and Transit Systems

Figure 29. Total Verified Positives for Five Drug Types among 

Contractors and Transit Systems

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

THC Cocaine PCP Opiates Amphet

Contractors

Transit Systems
32

4.4 Verified Positives by Employee Category for Drug Type Detected

Figure 30. Percent of Verified Positives by Employee Category for Each Drug Type

4.5 Verified Positives for Drug Type and Type of Test Conducted

Figure 31. Percentage of Verified Positives for Drug Type by Test Type

Percent of Verified Positives by Employee Category for 

Drug Types

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

RVO RVEM Cntrl/D CDL/NR ASP

THC

Cocaine

PCP

Opiates

Amphet

Percentage of Verified Positives for Drug Type by Test Type 

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

PreEmploymentRandom Post-Accident Reason -Susp R-T-D Follow-up

THC

Cocaine

PCP

Opiates

Amphet
33

5. Alcohol Test Results

5.1 Alcohol Test Results by Test Type and Employee Category

This section provides alcohol test results by test type conducted and for each employee category. 

5.1.1 Pre-employment Alcohol Test Results

Table 30 provides alcohol results for pre-employment tests for each employee category. Figure 

32 illustrates the violation rate for pre-employment tests by employee category. 

Table 30. Pre-employment Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 12,200 12180 19 22 8 6 1 0 4

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maintenance 1,802 1801 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 461 461 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 152 152 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security 

Personnel 503 503 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 15,118 15,097 19 22 8 6 1 1 4

0.06% 0.06%

0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

0.05%

0.00%

0.01%

0.02%

0.03%

0.04%

0.05%

0.06%

0.07%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/NonRevenue VehicleArmed Security 

Personnel

Total

Violation Rate for Pre-employment Test

Employee Category

Figure 32. Positive Rate for Pre-employment Tests by Employee Category
34

5.1.2 Random Alcohol Test Results

Table 31 provides alcohol results for random tests for each employee category. Figure 33

illustrates the violation rate for random alcohol tests by employee category.

Table 31. Random Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 27,524 27,464 45 38 14 18 5 10 19

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maintenance 7,745 7,712 31 28 9 18 0 2 2

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 2,964 2,956 6 5 1 2 1 1 3

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 800 798 2 2 0 1 0 0 0

Armed Security

Personnel 740 739 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 467 466 1 1 0 1 0 0 2

TOTAL 40,240 40,135 86 75 24 41 6 13 26

0.12%

0.26%

0.13% 0.13% 0.14%

0.21%

0.15%

0.00%

0.05%

0.10%

0.15%

0.20%

0.25%

0.30%

Revenue 

Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue 

Vehicle & 

Equipment 

Maint.

Revenue 

Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/NonRevenue 

Vehicle

Armed Security 

Personnel

Ferry Boat -

Crewmember

Total

Violation Rate for Random Test

Employee Category

Figure 33. Positive Rate for Random Tests by Employee Category
35

5.1.3 Post-Accident Alcohol Test Results

Table 32 provides alcohol results for post-accident tests for each employee category. Figure 34

illustrates the violation rate for post-accident tests by employee category.

Table 32. Post-Accident Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 12,533 12,509 17 15 2 10 1 6 6

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maintenance 463 461 2 2 0 2 0 0 0

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 87 87 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 74 74 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Armed Security 

Personnel 79 78 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

TOTAL 13,236 13,209 20 18 2 13 1 6 8

0.14%

0.43%

0.00% 0.00%

1.27%

0.15%

0.00%

0.20%

0.40%

0.60%

0.80%

1.00%

1.20%

1.40%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/NonRevenue VehicleArmed Security 

Personnel

Total

Violation Rate for Post-Accident Test 

Employee Category

Figure 34. Positive Rate for Post-Accident Tests by Employee Category
36

5.1.4 Reasonable Suspicion Alcohol Test Results

Table 33 provides alcohol results for reasonable suspicion tests for each employee category. 

Figure 35 illustrates the violation rate for reasonable suspicion tests by employee category.

Table 33. Reasonable Suspicion Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 421 307 106 97 21 69 1 7 1

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maintenance 83 57 24 24 5 19 0 2 2

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 24 17 5 5 0 4 0 2 2

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 8 6 2 2 0 1 0 0 0

Armed Security 

Personnel 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

TOTAL 538 388 138 129 26 94 1 11 5

18.29%

25.30% 25.00%

12.50%

50.00%

19.70%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/NonRevenue VehicleArmed Security 

Personnel

Total

Violation Rate for Reasonable Suspicion Test

Employee Category

Figure 35. Positive Rate for Reasonable Suspicion Tests by Employee Category
37

5.1.5 Return-to-Duty Alcohol Test Results

Table 34 provides alcohol results for return-to-duty tests for each employee category. Figure 36

illustrates the violation rate for return-to-duty tests by employee category.

Table 34. Return-to-Duty Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 266 263 2 2 1 1 0 1 0

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maintenance 109 107 2 1 1 0 0 0 0

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 29 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 15 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security 

Personnel 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 425 420 4 3 2 1 0 1 0

0.75%

0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

0.47%

0.00%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.40%

0.50%

0.60%

0.70%

0.80%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/NonRevenue VehicleArmed Security 

Personnel

Total

Violation Rate for Return-to-Duty Test

Employee Category

Figure 36. Positive Rate for Return-to-Duty Tests by Employee Category
38

5.1.6 Follow-up Alcohol Test Results

Table 35 provides alcohol results for follow-up tests for each employee category. Figure 37

illustrates the violation rate for follow-up tests by employee category.

Table 35. Follow-up Alcohol Test Results by Employee Category

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 3,156 3,143 12 12 4 8 1 0 0

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment 

Maintenance

1,530 1,521 7 6 3 2 0 2 1

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 182 182 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 87 87 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security 

Personnel 44 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 4,999 4,977 19 18 7 10 1 2 1

0.29%

0.26%

0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

0.26%

0.00%

0.05%

0.10%

0.15%

0.20%

0.25%

0.30%

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation

Revenue Vehicle 

& Equipment 

Maint.

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch

CDL/NonRevenue VehicleArmed Security 

Personnel

Total

Violation Rate for Follow-up Test 

Employee Category

Figure 37. Positive Rate for Follow-up Tests by Employee Category
39

5.2 Alcohol Test Results for All Employee Categories

Table 36 provides alcohol results for all employee categories by test type. 

Table 36. Alcohol Test Results for All Test Types

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 15,118 15,097 19 22 8 6 1 1 4

Random 40,240 40,135 86 75 24 41 6 13 26

Post-Accident 13,236 13,209 20 18 2 13 1 6 8

Reasonable Suspicion 538 388 138 129 26 94 1 11 5

Return-to-Duty 425 420 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Follow-up 4,999 4,977 19 24 9 11 0 1 3

TOTAL 74,556 74,226 283 269 69 166 9 32 46

5.3 Alcohol Results by Employee Category

This section provides data on alcohol test results for each employee category. Tables 37 through 

41 provide alcohol test results for each employee category by type of test conducted.

Table 37. Alcohol Results for Revenue Vehicle Operation by Test Type

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 12,200 12,180 19 22 8 6 1 0 4

Random 27,524 27,464 45 38 14 18 5 10 19

Post-Accident 12,533 12,509 17 15 2 10 1 6 6

Reasonable Suspicion 421 307 106 97 21 69 1 7 1

Return-to-Duty 266 263 2 2 1 1 0 1 0

Follow-up 3,156 3,143 12 12 4 8 1 0 0

TOTAL 56,100 55,866 201 186 50 112 9 24 30
40

Table 38. Alcohol Results for Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance by Test Type

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 1,802 1,801 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Random 7,745 7,712 31 28 9 18 0 2 2

Post-Accident 463 461 2 2 0 2 0 0 0

Reasonable Suspicion 83 57 24 24 5 19 0 2 2

Return-to-Duty 109 107 2 1 1 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 1,530 1,521 7 6 3 2 0 2 1

TOTAL 11,732 11,659 66 61 18 41 0 7 5

Table 39. Alcohol Results for Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch by Test Type

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 461 461 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Random 2,964 2,956 6 5 1 2 1 1 3

Post-Accident 87 87 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Reasonable Suspicion 24 17 5 5 0 4 0 2 2

Return-to-Duty 29 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 182 182 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 3,747 3,732 11 10 1 6 1 3 6

Table 40. Alcohol Results for CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle by Test Type

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 152 152 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Random 800 798 2 2 0 1 0 0 0

Post-Accident 74 74 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Reasonable Suspicion 8 6 2 2 0 1 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 15 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 87 87 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 1,136 1,132 4 4 0 2 0 0 1
41 

Table 41. Alcohol Results for Armed Security Personnel by Test Type 

Test Type 

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results 

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02 

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater 

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results 

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039 

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater 

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation 

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing 

Cancelled Tests 

Pre-employment 503 503 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Random 740 739 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 

Post-Accident 79 78 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 

Reasonable Suspicion 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 

Return-to-Duty 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Follow-up 44 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

TOTAL 1,374 1,371 3 3 0 3 0 0 0 

5.3.1 Ferry Boat Operator 

On April 22, 2002, FTA published a Notice of Interpretation in the Federal Register that changed 

the applicability of the FTA Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations to FTA-funded ferry boat 

operators. Previously, public transit ferry operators were required to comply with both the FTA 

and USCG regulations. The interpretation stated that FTA-funded ferry operations that comply 

with the relevant USCG drug and alcohol testing regulations were to be deemed in concurrent 

compliance with the FTA drug testing regulations. Since the USCG does not have a random 

alcohol testing provision that is similar to FTA’s, the ferry operators were still required to 

comply with FTA’s random alcohol testing requirements as defined in Section 655.45. On June 

5, 2006, FTA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to codify this 

interpretation in the final rule. If a ferry boat operator fails to be in compliance with the USCG 

testing regulations (46 CFR Part 4 and 16, and 33 CFR Part 95) or the FTA random alcohol 

testing regulations, the operator will be in non-compliance with 49 CFR Part 655. The employee 

is also subject to FTA consequences defined in Subpart G of the FTA regulations. The employer 

is responsible for the administrative and compliance certification requirements defined in 

Subparts H and I of the FTA regulations. This NPRM became a Final Rule, issued in November 

of 2006, and became effective January 2, 2007. 

Table 42 provides alcohol results for the ferry boat operator employee category for random tests 

only. In 2008, the rate of ferry boat operators who tested positive for alcohol during a random 

test was 0.23 percent. 

Table 42. Alcohol Results for Ferry Boat Operator for Random Test 

Test Type 

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results 

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02 

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater 

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results 

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039 

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater 

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation 

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing 

Cancelled Tests 

Random 467 466 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 

TOTAL 467 466 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 
42

5.3.2 Alcohol Test Results for All Employee Categories

Table 43 provides alcohol results for all test types by employee category.

Table 43. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle 

Operation 56,100 55,866 201 186 50 112 9 24 30

Revenue Vehicle & 

Equipment Maintenance 11,732 11,659 66 61 18 41 0 7 5

Revenue Vehicle 

Control/Dispatch 3,747 3,732 11 10 1 6 1 3 6

CDL/Non-Revenue 

Vehicle 1,136 1,132 4 4 0 2 0 0 1

Armed Security 

Personnel 1,374 1,371 3 3 0 3 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 467 466 1 1 0 1 0 0 2

TOTAL 74,556 74,226 286 265 69 165 10 34 44

5.4 Alcohol Test Results for All Test Types by Employee Category

This section provides alcohol test results by employee category for each region. Tables 44 

through 53 provide alcohol test results for all test types, by each employee category for Regions 

1 through 10.

Table 44. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 1

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 1,833 1,819 13 13 2 10 0 1 3

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 320 316 2 2 0 2 0 2 0

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 114 114 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 27 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 2,308 2,290 15 15 2 12 0 3 3
43

Table 45. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 2

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 9,045 9,019 25 21 3 16 1 0 5

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 2,906 2,895 11 9 4 5 0 0 0

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 704 702 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 94 94 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 293 293 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 439 438 1 1 0 1 0 0 2

TOTAL 13,481 13,441 39 31 7 22 1 0 7

Table 46. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 3

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 10,352 10,317 33 33 14 17 0 2 1

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 2,415 2,398 15 13 4 7 0 2 1

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 483 479 3 3 0 2 0 1 1

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 304 301 3 3 0 1 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 472 471 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 14,026 13,966 55 53 18 28 0 5 3

Table 47. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 4

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 6,642 6,617 18 17 3 8 0 7 1

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 1,266 1,256 9 9 4 5 0 1 0

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 673 672 0 1 0 0 1 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 180 180 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 143 142 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 13 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 8,917 8,880 28 28 7 14 1 8 1
44

Table 48. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 5

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 9,538 9,500 33 33 7 26 2 3 8

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 1,606 1,595 10 10 2 8 0 1 1

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 599 597 2 2 0 1 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 121 120 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 106 106 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 11,970 11,918 46 46 9 36 2 4 9

Table 49. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 6

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 3,546 3,534 9 9 2 5 1 2 5

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 6,86 681 4 4 0 4 0 1 0

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 267 267 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 95 95 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 154 154 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 4,748 4,731 13 13 2 9 1 3 5

Table 50. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 7

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 1,727 1,718 8 8 3 1 0 1 1

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 149 147 2 2 1 1 0 0 0

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 54 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 79 79 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 2,016 2,005 10 10 4 2 0 1 2
45

Table 51. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 8

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 1,322 1,312 9 7 2 3 1 0 1

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 289 285 4 4 1 3 0 0 0

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 142 141 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 44 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 16 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 1,813 1,798 13 11 3 6 1 1 1

Table 52. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 9

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 9,765 9,712 43 36 12 19 4 6 5

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 1,729 1,721 8 7 2 5 0 0 2

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 557 553 3 3 1 2 0 1 4

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 105 105 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Armed Security Personnel 156 155 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 12,322 12,256 55 47 15 27 4 7 11

Table 53. Alcohol Results by Employee Category for All Test Types within Region 10

Employee Category

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Revenue Vehicle Operation 2,305 2,293 10 9 2 7 0 2 0

Revenue Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance 360 359 1 1 0 1 0 0 1

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch 148 147 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle 103 103 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Armed Security Personnel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ferry Boat Operator 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 2,916 2,902 12 11 2 9 0 2 2
46

5.4.1 Alcohol Test Results for All Test Types by Region

Table 54 provides alcohol test results for all employee categories and test types for each region. 

Figure 38 illustrates the violation rate for all test types for each region.

Table 54. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories and Test Types by Region

Region

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

1 2,308 2,290 15 15 2 12 0 3 3

2 13,481 13,441 39 31 7 22 1 0 7

3 14,026 13,966 55 53 18 28 0 5 3

4 8,917 8,880 28 28 7 14 1 8 1

5 11,970 11,918 46 46 9 36 2 4 9

6 4,748 4,731 13 13 2 9 1 3 5

7 2,016 2,005 10 10 4 2 0 1 2

8 1,813 1,798 13 11 3 6 1 1 1

9 12,322 12,256 55 47 15 27 4 7 11

10 2,916 2,902 12 11 2 9 0 2 2

TOTAL 74,517 74,187 286 265 69 165 10 34 44

0.65%

0.17%

0.24% 0.26%

0.35%

0.27%

0.15%

0.44%

0.31%

0.38%

0.00%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.40%

0.50%

0.60%

0.70%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

Violation Rate - All Test Types

Violation Rate

Figure 38. Violation Rate for All Test Types by Region
47

5.5 Transit Employer and Contractor Alcohol Test Results

Table 55 provides alcohol test results for transit employers for all test types by region. Table 56

provides alcohol results for contractors for all test types by region. Figure 39 provides the 

violation rate for contractors and transit systems for each type of test conducted by region. 

Table 55. Alcohol Results for Transit Employers for All Test Types by Region

Region

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

1 1,730 1,717 13 13 2 11 0 0 1

2 10,285 10,263 22 20 5 14 0 0 5

3 10,919 10,875 41 40 14 22 0 3 3

4 7,183 7,161 20 21 5 9 0 2 1

5 6,786 6,749 35 35 9 25 1 1 6

6 4,026 4,013 10 10 1 7 1 2 5

7 1,714 1,703 10 10 4 2 0 1 2

8 1,292 1,280 11 9 3 5 0 1 0

9 8,237 8,204 28 23 10 11 3 2 9

10 2,311 2,302 7 6 0 6 0 2 1

TOTAL 54,483 54,267 197 187 53 112 5 14 33

Table 56. Alcohol Results for Contractors for All Test Types by Region

Region

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests 

with Results Below 

0.02

Screening Tests 

with Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

1 578 573 2 2 0 1 0 3 2

2 3,196 3,178 17 11 2 8 1 0 2

3 3,107 3,091 14 13 4 6 0 2 0

4 1,734 1,719 8 7 2 5 1 6 0

5 5,184 5,169 11 11 0 11 1 3 3

6 722 718 3 3 1 2 0 1 0

7 302 302 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 521 518 2 2 0 1 1 0 1

9 4,085 4,052 27 24 5 16 1 5 2

10 605 600 5 5 2 3 0 0 1

TOTAL 20,034 19,920 89 78 16 53 5 20 11
48

0.64%

0.14% 0.23% 0.15%

0.40%

0.25%

0.18%

0.46%

0.19%

0.35%

0.24%

0.69%

0.28% 0.26%

0.69%

0.29%

0.42%

0.00%

0.38%

0.54%

0.50%

0.39%

0.00%

0.10%

0.20%

0.30%

0.40%

0.50%

0.60%

0.70%

0.80%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 All 

Regions

FTA Region

Violation Rate for Transit Systems and Contractors - All Test Types and 

Employee Categories

Transit Systems

Contractors

Figure 39. Violation Rate for Contractors and Transit Systems for All Test 

Types by Region

5.6 Alcohol Test Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type

This section provides alcohol test results by test type for all employee categories within each 

region. Tables 57 through 66 provide alcohol test results for all employee categories by test type 

for FTA Regions 1 through 10. Figure 40 illustrates the violation rate for random alcohol tests 

by region.

Table 57. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 1

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 76 76 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Random 1,473 1,472 1 1 0 1 0 0 1

Post-Accident 443 442 1 1 0 1 0 0 2

Reasonable Suspicion 24 11 10 10 2 7 0 3 0

Return-to-Duty 19 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 273 270 3 3 0 3 0 0 0

TOTAL 2,308 2,290 15 15 2 12 0 3 3
49

Table 58. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 2

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 1,701 1,700 1 1 0 1 0 0 2

Random 8,030 8,013 17 11 3 7 0 0 5

Post-Accident 2,221 2,214 6 5 1 4 1 0 0

Reasonable Suspicion 57 45 12 11 2 8 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 51 51 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 1,421 1,418 3 3 1 2 0 0 0

TOTAL 13,481 13,441 39 31 7 22 1 0 7

Table 59. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 3

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 4,484 4,475 9 9 5 3 0 0 0

Random 6,637 6,615 19 18 6 9 0 3 2

Post-Accident 1,671 1,669 2 2 0 1 0 0 0

Reasonable Suspicion 104 85 19 19 4 14 0 0 1

Return-to-Duty 107 104 2 1 1 0 0 1 0

Follow-up 1,023 1,018 4 4 2 1 0 1 0

TOTAL 14,026 13,966 55 53 18 28 0 5 3

Table 60. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 4

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 1,504 1,502 2 5 1 0 0 0 0

Random 5,250 5,239 7 5 3 1 1 3 1

Post-Accident 1,919 1,916 1 2 0 1 0 2 0

Reasonable Suspicion 60 39 18 16 3 12 0 3 0

Return-to-Duty 45 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 139 139 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 8,917 8,880 28 28 7 14 1 8 1
50

Table 61. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 5

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 3,467 3,465 1 1 1 0 0 1 0

Random 5,449 5,437 9 9 4 5 2 1 7

Post-Accident 2,282 2,280 1 1 0 1 0 1 1

Reasonable Suspicion 121 91 29 29 2 26 0 1 1

Return-to-Duty 69 68 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

Follow-up 582 577 5 5 2 3 0 0 0

TOTAL 11,970 11,918 46 46 9 36 2 4 9

Table 62. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 6

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 1,055 1,053 1 1 0 1 1 0 1

Random 2,698 2,692 5 5 1 3 0 1 3

Post-Accident 916 914 1 1 0 0 0 1 1

Reasonable Suspicion 18 12 6 6 1 5 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 51 50 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

TOTAL 4,748 4,731 13 13 2 9 1 3 5

Table 63. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 7

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 197 194 3 3 0 0 0 0 0

Random 1,231 1,227 3 3 2 0 0 1 1

Post-Accident 491 490 1 1 0 1 0 0 1

Reasonable Suspicion 19 16 3 3 2 1 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 17 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 61 61 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 2,016 2,005 10 10 4 2 0 1 2
51

Table 64. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 8

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 104 104 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Random 1,206 1,201 4 4 1 3 1 0 1

Post-Accident 274 274 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Reasonable Suspicion 22 12 9 7 2 3 0 1 0

Return-to-Duty 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 193 193 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 1,813 1,798 13 11 3 6 1 1 1

Table 65. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 9

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 2,259 2,257 2 2 1 1 0 0 1

Random 6,238 6,215 18 17 3 11 2 3 4

Post-Accident 2,448 2,442 5 3 1 2 0 1 2

Reasonable Suspicion 91 61 26 22 7 13 1 3 3

Return-to-Duty 77 76 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 1,209 1,205 3 2 2 0 1 0 1

TOTAL 12,322 12,256 55 47 15 27 4 7 11

Table 66. Alcohol Results for All Employee Categories by Test Type for FTA Region 10

Test Type

Total Number of 

Screening Test 

Results

Screening Tests with 

Results Below 0.02

Screening Tests with 

Results 0.02 or 

Greater

Number of 

Confirmation Test 

Results

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.02 to 

0.039

Confirmation Tests 

with Results 0.04 or 

Greater

“Shy Lung” with No 

Medical Explanation

Other Refusals to 

Submit to Testing

Cancelled Tests

Pre-employment 262 262 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Random 1,998 1,994 3 2 1 1 0 1 1

Post-Accident 571 568 2 2 0 2 0 1 1

Reasonable Suspicion 22 16 6 6 1 5 0 0 0

Return-to-Duty 16 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Follow-up 47 46 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

TOTAL 2,916 2,902 12 11 2 9 0 2 2
52

0.07% 0.09%

0.18%

0.10%

0.15% 0.15%

0.08%

0.33%

0.26%

0.10%

0.00%

0.05%

0.10%

0.15%

0.20%

0.25%

0.30%

0.35%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

FTA Region

Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Testing

Violation Rate

Figure 40. Violation Rate for Random Alcohol Tests by Region
53

Appendix A. MIS Data Collection Form

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING MIS DATA COLLECTION FORM 

Calendar Year Covered by this Report: ________________ OMB No. 2105-0529

I. Employer: 

 Company Name: 

 Doing Business As (DBA) Name (if applicable): 

 Address:_______________________________________________________________________________ E-mail: ________________________ 

 Name of Certifying Official: Signature: _________________________________________________ 

 Telephone: (_____)______________________________________ Date Certified: ___________________________________________________ 

 Prepared by (if different): ________________________________________________________ Telephone: (_____)________________________ 

 C/TPA Name and Telephone (if applicable): __________________________________________________ (_____)________________________ 

Check the DOT agency for which you are reporting MIS data; and complete the information on that same line as appropriate:

___ FMCSA – Motor Carrier: DOT #: ______________________ Owner-operator: (circle one) YES or NO Exempt (Circle One) YES or NO 

___ FAA – Aviation: Certificate # (if applicable): _______________________ Plan / Registration # (if applicable):___________________________ 

___ PHMSA – Pipeline: (Check) Gas Gathering__ Gas Transmission__ Gas Distribution__ Transport Hazardous Liquids__ Transport Carbon Dioxide__ 

___ FRA – Railroad: Total Number of observed/documented Part 219 “Rule G” Observations for covered employees: __________________________ 

___ USCG – Maritime: Vessel ID # (USCG- or State-Issued): ______________________________________ (If more than one vessel, list separately.) 

___ FTA – Transit 

II. Covered Employees: (A) Enter Total Number Safety-Sensitive Employees In All Employee Categories: 

(B) Enter Total Number of Employee Categories: 

(C) If you have multiple employee categories, complete Sections I 

and II (A) & (B). Take that filled-in form and make one copy 

for each employee category and complete Sections II (C), III, 

and IV for each separate employee category. 

III. Drug Testing Data: 

 Employee Category Total Number of Employees

 in this Category 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

Refusal Results 

Type of Test 

Total Number Of Test Results [Should equal the sum of Columns 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, and 12] Verified Negative Results Verified Positive Results ~ For One Or More Drugs  Positive For  Marijuana  Positive For  Cocaine  Positive For  PCP  Positive For  Opiates  Positive For  Amphetamines Adulterated Substituted “Shy Bladder” ~ With No Medical Explanation Other Refusals To Submit To Testing Cancelled Results 

Pre-Employment 

Random 

Post-Accident 

Reasonable Susp./Cause 

Return-to-Duty 

Follow-Up 

TOTAL 

IV. Alcohol Testing Data: 

 

Refusal Results 

Type of Test 

Total Number Of Screening Test Results [Should equal the sum of Columns 2, 3, 7, and 8] Screening Tests With Results Below 0.02 Screening Tests With Results 0.02 Or Greater Number Of Confirmation Tests Results Confirmation Tests With Results 0.02 Through 0.039 Confirmation Tests With Results 0.04 Or Greater 

“Shy Lung” ~ With No Medical Explanation Other Refusals To Submit To Testing 

Cancelled Results 

Pre-Employment 

Random 

Post-Accident 

Reasonable Susp./Cause 

Return-to-Duty 

Follow-Up 

TOTAL 

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTICE (as required by 5 CFR 1320.21) 

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a 

collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control 

number for this information collection is 2105-0529. The Department of Transportation estimates 

that the average burden for this report form is 1.5 hours. You may send comments regarding this 

burden estimate or any suggestions for reducing the burden to: U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance, Room 10403, 400 Seventh Street, SW, 

Washington, D.C. 20590; OR Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, 

725 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20503. 

Title 18, USC Section 1001, makes it a criminal offense subject to a maximum fine of $10,000, or 

imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both, to knowingly and willfully make or cause to be 

made any false or fraudulent statements of representations in any matter within the jurisdiction of 

any agency of the United States. 
57

Appendix B. Contact Information

For additional information regarding the FTA’s drug and alcohol testing requirements, please 

contact the following individuals:

Jerry Powers

Drug and Alcohol Program Manager

Office of Safety and Security

Federal Transit Administration

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

55 Broadway

Cambridge, MA 02142

Gerald.Powers@dot.gov

Mike Redington

Program Manager/Transportation Industry Analyst

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

55 Broadway

Cambridge, MA 02142

Michael.Redington@dot.gov

Eve Rutyna

Transportation Industry Analyst

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

55 Broadway

Cambridge, MA 02142

Eve.Rutyna@dot.gov

For assistance in accessing the FTA Office of Safety and Security Web site and using the 

Internet reporting system, contact the FTA DAMIS Project Office at (617) 494-6336 or via email at FTA.damis@dot.gov. Contact the FTA Safety and Security Clearinghouse at 

(617) 494-2116 for additional copies of this report as well as technical assistance materials, 

including the Implementation Guidelines for Drug and Alcohol Regulations in Mass Transit and 

Best Practices Manual: FTA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Documents can also be

obtained from the FTA Safety and Security Clearinghouse Web site at: http://transitsafety.fta.dot.gov/publications/order/default.asp. You may also send e-mail directly to 

FTA.clearinghouse@dot.gov.

59

Appendix C. Glossary of Terms

Accident: An occurrence associated with the operation of a vehicle, if as a result:

(1) An individual dies.

(2) An individual suffers a bodily injury and immediately receives medical treatment away from 

the scene of the accident.

(3) With respect to an occurrence in which the mass transit vehicle involved is a bus, electric bus, 

van, or automobile, one or more vehicles incurs disabling damage and is transported away from 

the scene by a tow truck or other vehicle.

(4) With respect to an occurrence in which the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley 

car, trolley bus, or vessel, the mass transit vehicle is removed from revenue service.

Alcohol Concentration: The alcohol in a volume of breath, expressed in terms of grams of 

alcohol per 210 liters of breath as indicated by a breath test.

Amphetamines: Includes racemic, amphetamine, extroamphetamine, and methamphetamine. 

These are potent stimulants that can be swallowed, snorted, or injected. They reduce the desire to 

sleep or eat and can induce a sense of aroused euphoria, accompanied by feelings of increased 

power, strength, energy, self-assertion, focus, and motivation. Because the body does not readily 

break down amphetamines, these feelings, which are often intense and ephemeral, may last several 

hours. Severe mental depression and fatigue can set in when the euphoric feelings wear off.

Armed Security Personnel: Employees who provide security and carry a firearm.

Canceled or Invalid Test: In drug testing, a drug test that has been declared invalid by a Medical 

Review Officer (MRO). In alcohol testing, a test that is deemed to be invalid. It is neither a 

positive nor a negative test. 

CDL/Non-Revenue Vehicle: Job category including any transit employee who holds a 

Commercial Driver's License (CDL), performs a function requiring a CDL, and is not included in 

any other job category.

Cocaine: An addictive substance that comes from coca leaves or is made synthetically. It appears 

as a white powder that is snorted, ingested, injected, freebased (smoked), or applied directly to the 

nasal membrane or gums. Cocaine acts as a stimulant to the central nervous system. It gives the 

user a feeling of exhilaration. The chemicals in cocaine trick the brain into feeling it has 

experienced pleasure when in fact it has not.

Confirmation (or Confirmatory) Test: In drug testing, a second analytical procedure to identify 

the presence of a specific drug or metabolite that is independent of the screening test and that uses 

a different technique and chemical principle from those of the screening test in order to ensure 

reliability and accuracy. In alcohol testing, a second test following a screening test with a result of 

0.02 or greater that provides quantitative data of alcohol concentration.
60

Consortium: An entity, such as a group or association of employers, operators, recipients, 

subrecipients, or contractors, that provides drug testing services and acts on behalf of the 

employer.

Contractor: A person or organization that provides a service for a recipient, subrecipient, 

employer, or operator consistent with a specific understanding or arrangement. The understanding 

can be a written contract or an informal arrangement that reflects an ongoing relationship between 

the parties.

Covered Employee: A person, such as an applicant, transferee, or volunteer who perform a 

safety-sensitive function for a recipient, subrecipient, employer, or operator.

Drug Metabolite: The specific substance produced when the human body metabolizes a given 

prohibited drug as it passes through and is excreted in urine.

Drug Test: The laboratory analysis of a urine specimen collected in accordance with 49 CFR Part 

40 and analyzed in a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)-approved laboratory. 

Education: Efforts that include the display and distribution of informational materials, a 

community service hotline telephone number for employee assistance, and the transit entity policy 

regarding drug use and alcohol misuse in the workplace.

Employee: An individual designated in a Department of Transportation (DOT) agency regulation 

as subject to drug and/or alcohol testing; includes applicants for employment. 

Employer: A recipient or other entity that provides mass transportation services or performs a 

safety-sensitive function for such recipient or other entity. This term includes subrecipients, 

operators, and contractors.

Follow-up Testing: Drug or alcohol test that is required for an employee who is returned to 

safety-sensitive duty. The employee is subject to at least six unannounced tests for at least 12 

months after returning to duty. The exact number and frequency of tests is prescribed by the 

Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), who may order tests for up to 60 months after return to duty. 

The SAP often requires the employee to submit to both a drug and an alcohol test even if only one 

of the tests was at issue. Follow-up testing is separate from and in addition to random testing. Part 

655 incorporates follow-up testing under return-to-duty testing (i.e., return to duty/follow-up 

testing) as one of five required FTA tests. It was previously listed separately as one of six required 

FTA tests.

Marijuana: Derived from the hemp plant, it comes in a variety of colors such as green, brown, 

and a gray mixture of leaves. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary active chemical 

in marijuana. It is absorbed quickly into fatty tissues and stored for a long time. The potency and 

strength of the chemical causes people to use the drug for the mildly tranquilizing, mood- and 

perception-altering effects it produces. The test for marijuana also includes its metabolites.
61

Opiates: Known as narcotic analgesics, includes heroin, morphine, and codeine. Opiates are 

derived from a sap taken from a seedpod of the plant, papaver somniferum (or poppy plant). 

General effects include sedation, slowed reflexes, raspy speech, sluggish movements, slowed 

breathing, cold skin, and vomiting. The synthetic form of opiates, known as a designer drug, is 

even more deadly and addictive.

Phencyclidine (PCP): Originally developed as an anesthetic; has adverse side effects that limit 

its medical use to a tranquilizer for large animals. In people, PCP acts as both a depressant and a 

hallucinogen and sometimes as a stimulant. PCP can cause distorted bodily perceptions and a 

feeling of disassociation in which the mind feels separated from the body. These effects can be 

very upsetting to some people, who may panic as a result.

Positive Rate: The sum of the annual number of verified positive results for random drug tests 

conducted under 49 CFR Part 655 plus the annual number of refusals to submit to a random drug 

test, divided by the total number of random test results. 

Post-Accident Testing: Tests required following an accident involving a fatality or following an 

accident that meets any of three other criteria if the employee’s involvement cannot be completely 

discounted as a contributing factor: (1) a person suffers a bodily injury and immediately receives 

medical attention away from the scene, (2) when any vehicle involved in the accident incurs 

damage requiring it to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other vehicle, or (3)

the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel and is removed 

from revenue service due to the accident.

Pre-employment Testing: Testing of candidates (including existing non-safety-sensitive 

employees and applicants for employment) for a safety-sensitive position and of employees who 

have not performed a safety-sensitive function for more than 90 consecutive calendar days, 

regardless of the reason, and have been removed from the employer’s random selection pool 

during that time.

A negative pre-employment test for drugs is required by FTA as a condition for performing safetysensitive duties under these circumstances. Pre-employment alcohol tests are not required but are 

permitted under Part 655, providing that they are performed in accordance with the testing 

procedures in Part 40. The alcohol tests are included in the data presented in Chapter 4 of this 

report because they are conducted per DOT standards and are required by many employers. The 

Omnibus Testing Act required a negative pre-employment alcohol test, but FTA suspended the 

requirement on May 10, 1995, as the result of a U.S. Court of Appeals decision. FTA decided to 

allow but not require pre-employment alcohol testing in Part 655. 

Random Testing: Considered by FTA to be the most effective deterrent to drug use and alcohol 

misuse as well as the most reliable indicator of drug use and alcohol misuse within an employer 

and in the industry as a whole, provided it is unannounced and unpredictable. Selections for 

testing must be based on a scientifically valid random-number selection method, to ensure that all 

safety-sensitive employees have an equal chance of being selected for testing.
62

Random Testing Rate: The number of drug tests equal to at least 25 percent of the total number 

of safety-sensitive employees and, of alcohol tests equal to at least 10 percent of the total number 

of safety-sensitive employees must be conducted each year by this method. 

Reasonable Suspicion Testing: Required when an employer has reasonable suspicion that an 

employee has used a prohibited drug or has misused alcohol as defined in the regulations. Must be 

based on specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations made by a trained supervisor 

concerning the appearance, behavior, speech, or body odor of a safety-sensitive employee. 

Recipient: An entity receiving federal financial assistance under Section 5307, 5309, or 5311 of 

the Federal Transit Act or under Sections 103(e)(4) of Title 23 of the U.S. Code.

Refusal to Submit (to an alcohol test): When a covered employee fails to provide adequate 

breath for testing without a valid medical explanation. 

Refusal to Submit (to a drug test): When a covered employee fails to provide a urine sample as 

required by 49 CFR Part 40 without a valid medical explanation after receiving notice of the 

requirement to be tested, or engages in conduct that clearly obstructs the testing process. 

Return-to-Duty Testing: Drug and/or alcohol test that is required for a safety-sensitive employee 

who completes a course of treatment prescribed by a SAP after testing positive for drugs or 

alcohol or refusing to submit to a required test. A negative result for the type (drug or alcohol) of 

positive or refused test is required before the employee can be returned to duty. SAPs often require 

the employee to submit to both a drug and an alcohol test even if only one of the tests was at issue.

Revenue Vehicle Control/Dispatch: Includes employees who control the movement of revenue 

service vehicles. The key consideration is the type of work performed rather than a particular job 

title. FTA decided not to attempt a universal definition of “dispatchers” in Part 655. Instead, each 

employer determines whether its particular dispatcher performs or may perform a safety-sensitive 

function.

Revenue Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance: Includes employees who maintain revenue 

service vehicles or equipment, as well as many maintenance contract employees who perform 

routine, ongoing repair or maintenance for FTA recipients and subrecipients that have employees, 

including supervisors, who perform or could be called upon to perform any of the FTA safetysensitive functions. Maintenance contractors of 5311 funding recipients are not subject to the 

testing regulations. Additionally, recipients that operate in areas with a population of 200,000 or 

less and contract out maintenance services are no longer required to comply.

Revenue Vehicle Operation: Safety-sensitive job category; includes employees who operate a 

revenue service vehicle, regardless of whether it is in service.

Safety-Sensitive Function: Any of the following duties:

• Operating a revenue service vehicle, including when not in revenue service
63

• Operating a non-revenue service vehicle that is required to be operated by the holder of a 

CDL

• Controlling dispatch or movement of a revenue service vehicle

• Maintaining a revenue service vehicle or equipment used in revenue service, unless the 

recipient receives Section 5311 funding and contracts out such services

• Providing security and carrying a firearm

Screening Test (or Initial Test): In drug testing, an immunoassay screen to eliminate negative

urine specimens from further analysis. In alcohol testing, an analytical procedure to determine 

whether an employee may have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in a breath specimen.

Transit System: The public entity that receives the federal grant (direct grant recipient), whether 

or not that recipient provides mass transit services directly.

Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance: Function including any person repairing or maintaining 

revenue service vehicles or other equipment used in revenue service. 

Violation Rate: Refers to the sum of the annual number of results from random alcohol 

confirmation tests conducted under 49 CFR Part 655 that have alcohol concentrations of 0.04 or 

greater plus the annual number of refusals to submit to random alcohol tests, divided by the sum 

of the annual number of random alcohol screening tests conducted. 

Verified Negative (drug test result): A drug test result reviewed by an MRO and determined to 

have no evidence of prohibited drug use.

Verified Positive (drug test result): A drug test result reviewed by an MRO and determined to 

have evidence of prohibited drug use.