If you are an owner-operator or run a small fleet, the first question about a DOT consortium is usually the price. The short answer: at WorkOccMed, enrollment starts at $49 per year per driver. The longer answer is that the price only means something if you know what it covers.
Quick answer: Basic enrollment is from $49 per year per driver. Fleets can use flat-rate plans by number of drivers. Premium is all-inclusive for one driver, with random tests and Clearinghouse queries included.
What a consortium fee should cover
A DOT random testing consortium (C/TPA) pools drivers from many small companies so the random selection is large enough to be statistically valid. A fair enrollment fee covers:
- Pool enrollment and your enrollment certificate
- Random selections run on a scientifically valid method, with notifications to you
- MRO services (medical review of results)
- Required compliance reporting, including FMCSA Clearinghouse reporting
- Records and annual MIS reports you can hand to an auditor
What is usually billed separately
On a basic plan, the collection and lab test is billed when a driver is actually selected. A DOT drug test through WorkOccMed is currently $80. Because selection is random, a given driver may be tested once, several times or not at all in a year. The federal minimum annual random rates are 50% for drug testing and 10% for alcohol testing across the pool.
Basic, fleet and Premium plans
- Basic: from $49 per year per driver. Best for one to four drivers who are comfortable paying for a test only if they are selected.
- Company and fleet plans: flat-rate pricing by fleet size, from small fleets up to very large ones. See the consortium page for the current tiers.
- Premium (1 driver): all-inclusive. Random tests and Clearinghouse queries are included, so your yearly cost is predictable.
Questions to ask before you pick a consortium
- Is the random selection done by a documented, scientifically valid method?
- Do you handle Clearinghouse reporting and queries, and is that in the fee?
- What does a selected test cost, and where can the driver go?
- Will I get enrollment records and an MIS report for an audit?
- Can I enroll online today, or do I wait for a call back?
The cost of not being enrolled
Driving a commercial vehicle without being in a random testing program can lead to civil penalties that run into the thousands of dollars per violation, plus problems with your carrier authority and insurance. Compared with that, a yearly enrollment fee is small.
Enroll online from $49 per year per driver, or read our guide on whether owner-operators need a consortium.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DOT consortium cost per year?
At WorkOccMed, enrollment starts at $49 per year per driver on the Basic plan. Fleets can choose flat-rate plans by fleet size, and the Premium plan is all-inclusive for a single driver, with random tests and Clearinghouse queries included.
Is the random test itself included in the price?
On the Basic plan, the enrollment fee covers pool enrollment, MRO services and required compliance reporting. The collection and lab test is billed when a driver is selected. The Premium plan includes the random tests.
Do I pay more if I am selected more than once?
Random selection is unannounced and can pick the same driver more than once in a year, or not at all. Under the Basic plan each selected test is billed when it happens, which is why some drivers choose the Premium plan for a predictable cost.
Is a cheaper consortium always better?
No. A consortium that is cheap but does not run a compliant random pool, report to the Clearinghouse or keep records can leave you exposed in an audit. Compare what is included, not only the headline price.