Local governments that employ one or more drivers who are required to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) are subject to federal drug and alcohol testing requirements. The Michigan Municipal League (MML) CDL Drug and Alcohol Testing Consortium helps eligible Michigan public employers administer these requirements through a coordinated testing program.

MML coordinates the Consortium, with Tom Allen Enterprises, Inc. (TAE) serving as the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) effective January 1st, 2027. The program is available to eligible Michigan cities, villages, counties, townships, county road commissions, and public authorities.

Participation in the MML CDL Consortium provides municipalities with a cost-effective and administratively efficient way to manage these requirements. By combining participating CDL drivers into a larger random-testing pool, municipalities can satisfy random-testing requirements without administering a stand-alone pool. The program reduces the administrative burden associated with testing coordination and compliance, while providing municipalities with access to specialized support for navigating complex federal CDL requirements.

What the program provides

• The Consortium provides administrative support to help members manage their federal drug and alcohol testing obligations. Core services include:
• Administration and maintenance of the random drug and alcohol testing program
• Medical Review Officer (MRO) services
• Test-result reporting to the member’s authorized Designated Employer Representative (DER) or backup
• Drug-test record maintenance
• Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse support
• Required statistical reporting under 49 CFR Part 40

Testing and additional support

TAE administers the Consortium’s random selections and communicates testing requirements to the member’s DER. Members send selected employees to qualified collection sites or, when arranged in advance, may use onsite collection services. Test results are provided to the authorized DER or backup following the MRO process.

Additional services may be available for a separate charge, including pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty and follow-up testing; collection arrangements; supervisor and employee training; and policy support. Members should confirm availability and fees with TAE before requesting additional services.

Member responsibilities

Consortium participation does not transfer the employer’s responsibility for complying with federal drug and alcohol testing requirements. Members remain responsible for maintaining appropriate policies and employee information, designating authorized contacts, responding to random selections, using qualified collection services, maintaining confidential records, and managing applicable return-to-duty and follow-up requirements.

Interested in participating or have questions?

Contact Nicole Bidwell at [email protected] or 734-662-3246 to learn more about the program and enrollment.