FMCSA SAP Program
The FMCSA is an entity within the United States Department of Transportation that regulates the trucking industry in America. The primary focuses of the FMCSA are to reduce injuries, crashes, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.
The FMCSA was created in 2000 due to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. The agency consolidated several previous DOT agencies, including the Interstate Commerce Commission’s Office of Motor Carriers (OMC) and parts of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The FMCSA has authority over all interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) carriers, including trucking companies, bus companies, hazardous materials haulers, and passenger carriers. This can also include vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) greater than 10,000 pounds; vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver); or any size vehicle carrying hazardous materials requiring placards. In addition to regulating CMV carriers, the FMCSA also sets safety standards for CMV drivers operating in interstate commerce.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or the FMCSA, combined its resources to develop the FMCSA SAP Program to ensure that drivers who violate the DOT drug and alcohol regulations receive evaluation and treatment from a qualified professional. The SAP program is designed to help these drivers get back on the road safely and ensure they do not pose a danger to themselves or others.
As part of the SAP program, drivers who have violated the DOT drug and alcohol regulations must undergo an evaluation by a qualified professional. This evaluation will determine whether the driver has a substance abuse problem and, if so, what kind of treatment is necessary. Drivers with a substance abuse problem must participate in an approved treatment program before returning to driving.
The FMCSA provides resources on its website for drivers and employers regarding the SAP process. These resources include information on how to find a qualified evaluator as well as how to select an appropriate rehabilitation provider. Employers are also required by law to provide their employees with information about the SAP process; this also includes making sure that employees know how to get help if they think they have problems with drugs or alcohol, as well as providing them with information about their absolute rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If you are interested in learning more, visit our website at www.sapevaluation.org or call us at 800-683-7745.