[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR382.307]

[Page 863]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
        CHAPTER III--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION,
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 382--CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND ALCOHOL USE AND TESTING--Table of Contents
 
                        Subpart C--Tests Required
 
Sec. 382.307  Reasonable suspicion testing.

    (a) An employer shall require a driver to submit to an alcohol test 
when the employer has reasonable suspicion to believe that the driver 
has violated the prohibitions of subpart B of this part concerning 
alcohol. The employer's determination that reasonable suspicion exists 
to require the driver to undergo an alcohol test must be based on 
specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the 
appearance, behavior, speech or body odors of the driver.
    (b) An employer shall require a driver to submit to a controlled 
substances test when the employer has reasonable suspicion to believe 
that the driver has violated the prohibitions of subpart B of this part 
concerning controlled substances. The employer's determination that 
reasonable suspicion exists to require the driver to undergo a 
controlled substances test must be based on specific, contemporaneous, 
articulable observations concerning the appearance, behavior, speech or 
body odors of the driver. The observations may include indications of 
the chronic and withdrawal effects of controlled substances.
    (c) The required observations for alcohol and/or controlled 
substances reasonable suspicion testing shall be made by a supervisor or 
company official who is trained in accordance with Sec. 382.603. The 
person who makes the determination that reasonable suspicion exists to 
conduct an alcohol test shall not conduct the alcohol test of the 
driver.
    (d) Alcohol testing is authorized by this section only if the 
observations required by paragraph (a) of this section are made during, 
just preceding, or just after the period of the work day that the driver 
is required to be in compliance with this part. A driver may be directed 
by the employer to only undergo reasonable suspicion testing while the 
driver is performing safety-sensitive functions, just before the driver 
is to perform safety-sensitive functions, or just after the driver has 
ceased performing such functions.
    (e)(1) If an alcohol test required by this section is not 
administered within two hours following the determination under 
paragraph (a) of this section, the employer shall prepare and maintain 
on file a record stating the reasons the alcohol test was not promptly 
administered. If an alcohol test required by this section is not 
administered within eight hours following the determination under 
paragraph (a) of this section, the employer shall cease attempts to 
administer an alcohol test and shall state in the record the reasons for 
not administering the test.
    (2) Notwithstanding the absence of a reasonable suspicion alcohol 
test under this section, no driver shall report for duty or remain on 
duty requiring the performance of safety-sensitive functions while the 
driver is under the influence of or impaired by alcohol, as shown by the 
behavioral, speech, and performance indicators of alcohol misuse, nor 
shall an employer permit the driver to perform or continue to perform 
safety-sensitive functions, until:
    (i) An alcohol test is administered and the driver's alcohol 
concentration measures less than 0.02; or
    (ii) Twenty four hours have elapsed following the determination 
under paragraph (a) of this section that there is reasonable suspicion 
to believe that the driver has violated the prohibitions in this part 
concerning the use of alcohol.
    (3) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2) of this section, no 
employer shall take any action under this part against a driver based 
solely on the driver's behavior and appearance, with respect to alcohol 
use, in the absence of an alcohol test. This does not prohibit an 
employer with independent authority of this part from taking any action 
otherwise consistent with law.
    (f) A written record shall be made of the observations leading to an 
alcohol or controlled substances reasonable suspicion test, and signed 
by the supervisor or company official who made the observations, within 
24 hours of the observed behavior or before the results of the alcohol 
or controlled substances tests are released, whichever is earlier.