Memorandum

U.S. Department
of Transportation

Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration

Subject: Drug and Alcohol Implementation Manual                                                           Date: Sept. 2, 2004

From:     Charles A. Horan III
               Director, Office of Enforcement and Compliance                                                 In Reply Refer To: MC-EC

To:        Division Administrators/State Directors

This memorandum is being sent to notify you of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) updated publication, "Implementation Guidelines for Alcohol and Drug Regulations in Highway Transportation." A quantity of these booklets is being shipped to you for use by your staff, state partners and industry representatives as you deem necessary.

Our regulations require motor carriers to implement a successful controlled substances use and alcohol misuse program. This updated information will assist industry achieve this goal. It also explains what elements are required if an employer has no controlled substances and/or alcohol testing program in place.

In addition, we have revised the guidelines to reflect recent changes to the Federal drug/alcohol testing regulations to help employers meet these requirements. The publication also provides the employer valuable compliance information. The booklet also contains pertinent questions to ask motor carrier and there are a number of new regulations that should help improve compliance in our industry.

We expect delivery of these guidelines to all FMCSA Division offices around September 9, 2004.

We believe that sharing information with your State partners, motor carriers and others concerning these guidelines, and incorporating the programs outlined in the publication will be beneficial to motor carrier programs and contribute to our mutual goal of reducing crashes, fatalities and injuries.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to working with you as we further develop this important safety initiative.