The DER role
Employer authority, responsibilities, program oversight and the limits of service-agent delegation.
Designated Employer Representative training
DOT DER Training
Learn how to coordinate a compliant DOT drug and alcohol testing program. Understand the DER's authority, required actions, communication with service agents, test results, records and the rules applicable to your transportation operation.
49 CFR Part 40Common DOT testing procedures
Employer authorityDER decisions and responsibilities
Program recordsDocumentation and confidentiality
Team enrollmentIndividual or group seats
Course curriculum
Know what to do when your DOT program needs action.
Practical training focused on a DER's daily responsibilities, required decisions and coordination with regulated program partners.
Program administration
Policies, covered employees, designated contacts, service-agent coordination and testing schedules.
Test results and removals
Receiving required information from MROs and BATs and acting promptly on disqualifying results.
Testing situations
Pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty and follow-up workflows.
Records and confidentiality
Training records, privacy, release procedures, documentation and audit readiness.
DOT agency requirements
How Part 40 procedures interact with transportation agency-specific testing obligations.
DER responsibilities
Be ready to act when a testing decision matters.
From receiving a verified positive result to arranging a required test, the DER must understand when the employer needs to act promptly and how to document those actions.
Service agents can assist with administration, but they do not replace the employer's authorized decision-maker.
Choose a Training Plan01Receive test informationUnderstand communication from MROs, BATs and other authorized program parties.
02Take required actionKnow when a covered employee must be removed from safety-sensitive work.
03Coordinate testingOversee required test events and communicate with collection sites and service agents.
04Maintain confidentialityHandle program information and records within applicable disclosure limits.
05Apply agency rulesUnderstand employer obligations beyond common Part 40 procedures.
Training enrollment
Choose the right DER training plan.
Purchase for one employer representative or train several members of your compliance team. Current pricing is loaded directly from the course catalog.
Single Learner
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For one Designated Employer Representative.
- DER role and employer authority
- DOT Part 40 procedures
- Agency-specific responsibilities
- Training completion documentation
5 Learners
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Training seats for a small compliance or HR team.
- Five learner seats
- Coordinated team purchase
- DER course curriculum
- Employer training documentation
10 Learners
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For organizations training multiple program representatives.
- Ten learner seats
- Coordinated team purchase
- DER course curriculum
- Employer training documentation
20 Learners
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For larger employers and compliance departments.
- Twenty learner seats
- Coordinated team purchase
- DER course curriculum
- Employer training documentation
Who should enroll
Build confidence across your compliance team.
New and existing DERs
- Newly designated employer representatives
- Safety and compliance managers responsible for testing decisions
- HR and operations employees with designated DOT program duties
DOT regulated employers
- Employers coordinating with C/TPAs, MROs and collection sites
- Organizations operating across more than one DOT agency
- Teams improving consistency, documentation and audit readiness
Industry requirements
Different transportation modes have different employer rules.
49 CFR Part 40 provides common procedures, but each regulated mode may impose additional program obligations.
Motor carriers
49 CFR Part 382 for regulated motor carrier drug and alcohol testing.
Aviation
14 CFR Part 120 for covered aviation employers.
Railroad
49 CFR Part 219 for covered railroad operations.
Public transit
49 CFR Part 655 for covered transit employers.
Pipeline
49 CFR Part 199 for covered pipeline operations.
Maritime
46 CFR Parts 4 and 16 for covered maritime employers.
Common questions
Answers before you enroll.
What is a Designated Employer Representative?
A DER is an employee authorized to take immediate action to remove employees from safety-sensitive duties when required and make necessary decisions in the employer's drug and alcohol testing program.
Does DOT require a universal DER certification?
No. DOT defines DER responsibilities but does not establish one universal federal DER certification. This course is training in the role, not a claim of federal certification.
Can a C/TPA act as the DER?
A service agent may support the employer, but the employer's DER responsibilities cannot generally be delegated to an external service agent. The employer must designate an authorized employee.
What topics are covered?
Part 40 procedures, required testing situations, communication with service agents, test results, removals, confidentiality, records and mode-specific requirements.
Can we enroll several staff members?
Yes. Choose an individual enrollment or one of the five, ten or twenty learner options above. Group training is also available.
Where do I access my training after purchase?
Use the Student Sign In page to access assigned courses. For additional access time, see Course Extensions.
Get started
Lead your testing program with confidence.
Choose a DER training plan or explore options for a larger team.