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['Drug and Alcohol Testing - DOT']
['Consortium: third-party administrator (TPA) - Motor Carrier']
06/04/2026
§40.15 May an employer use a service agent to meet DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements?
Also applies to:
- §40.3 What do the terms used in this regulation mean?
Question: If a C/TPA is hired as an “independent safety consultant” that executes all aspects of the employer’s safety and drug and alcohol testing programs, can the C/TPA act as a DER?
Answer:
- Service agents are prohibited from acting as DERs under any circumstances.
- The fact that an organization that is called an “independent safety consultant” acts as a consultant to an employer for purposes of executing a drug and alcohol testing or safety program does not make it any less a service agent. It is still prohibited from acting as a DER.
['Drug and Alcohol Testing - DOT']
['Consortium: third-party administrator (TPA) - Motor Carrier']
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