Waste, Roll-Off and Septic Haulers: DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing
Short answer: drivers of garbage trucks, roll-off trucks and septic or vacuum trucks rated 26,001 pounds or more need a CDL, so they fall under DOT drug and alcohol testing (49 CFR Part 382), even on routes that never leave the state. Helpers, yard and transfer-station staff who don't drive a CDL truck can be tested under your own company policy.
Updated October 14, 2026 · Checked against the federal regulations
Which drivers are covered
A single truck rated 26,001 pounds or more needs a Group B CDL, and a combination of 26,001 pounds or more with a towed unit over 10,000 pounds needs a Group A CDL (383.5). Check the weight rating on each truck's door label. Drivers who need a CDL are under Part 382 (382.103). A truck carrying placarded hazardous materials needs a CDL at any weight.
Local routes are covered too
The CDL rules apply to drivers in intrastate commerce as well as interstate (383.3), and Part 382 covers drivers subject to those rules. A hauler that runs only in one city or county still needs a DOT drug and alcohol program for its CDL drivers.
What the program includes
- A negative pre-employment drug test before a new driver's first route (382.301).
- Random testing: in 2026, 50% of drivers for drugs and 10% for alcohol each year (382.305).
- Post-accident, reasonable-suspicion, return-to-duty and follow-up tests.
- Clearinghouse queries before hire and every year, and supervisors trained to spot drug and alcohol use (382.603).
- A written policy every driver receives, and records kept for an audit.
Helpers, yard and transfer-station staff
Helpers who ride on the truck but don't drive, and staff at the yard, transfer station or recycling floor, aren't under Part 382 unless they also drive a CDL truck. You can test them under a separate company policy, which follows state law rather than DOT rules.
How Pact handles a waste hauler
CDL drivers go in Pact's DOT program at $25 a driver a month ($99 minimum, never more than $1,020 a month up to 50 drivers), with DOT drug tests at $69 and breath alcohol tests at $59. Other staff can be tested on a Pact employer account with no monthly fee: $40 for a 5- or 10-panel lab test at a Quest site with MRO review.
Common questions
Do garbage truck drivers need DOT drug testing?
Yes, if the truck is rated 26,001 pounds or more (or carries placarded hazmat), because the driver needs a CDL. Part 382 then applies to the driver and the company.
Our routes never leave the county. Do the DOT rules apply?
Yes. The CDL rules cover intrastate drivers too, and Part 382 covers drivers subject to the CDL rules.
Do helpers on the truck need DOT testing?
Not if they don't drive a CDL vehicle. They can be tested under a separate company policy.
Sources
- 49 CFR 382.103: Applicability
- 49 CFR 383.3: Applicability (CDL rules)
- 49 CFR 383.5: Definitions
- 49 CFR 382.305: Random testing
- 49 CFR 382.603: Supervisor training