DOT agency
FRA (Federal Railroad Administration)
Regulation
49 CFR Part 40 & 49 CFR Part 219
Format
In-person & telehealth, Pennsylvania-wide
Who this is for
- Locomotive engineers
- Conductors and trainmen
- Dispatchers and operators
- Signal employees
- Maintenance-of-Way (MOW) covered service employees
- Class I, regional, short-line, and commuter rail personnel
What to expect
Your initial SAP evaluation is a 60–90 minute confidential clinical session. The SAP reviews the Part 219 violation, your work history, and current circumstances, then makes a specific recommendation for education or treatment.
After you complete the recommendation, we conduct your follow-up evaluation. Once cleared, your railroad arranges your directly observed return-to-duty test, and we issue a follow-up testing plan for at least the first 12 months.
Mode-specific details
Part 219 vs. Part 40: Part 40 sets the universal SAP and return-to-duty process; Part 219 lays out FRA-specific rules around random pools, post-accident testing, and reporting. Your SAP evaluation satisfies the Part 40 requirements regardless of which Part 219 testing event triggered the violation.
Post-accident testing: If your violation came from post-accident testing, the SAP process is the same — but additional FRA accident reporting and any NTSB involvement run on a parallel track managed by your employer.
Frequently asked
Does the FRA SAP process apply to me as a Maintenance-of-Way worker?+
Yes. 49 CFR Part 219 covers covered service employees performing functions including train and engine service, dispatchers, signal employees, and certain Maintenance-of-Way employees. If you're randomly tested under FRA, the SAP requirement applies.
Can I keep working in a non-covered role while I complete the SAP process?+
FRA only restricts covered-service functions. Your railroad employer may assign you to a non-covered role temporarily, but that's the employer's decision under your CBA, not a DOT requirement.
Will the BAC level on my test affect the SAP recommendation?+
DOT considers a confirmed alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher a violation requiring SAP evaluation. Levels at or above 0.02 but below 0.04 require removal from safety-sensitive duty for 8+ hours but do not by themselves trigger the full SAP process — unless paired with other violations.
Do FRA random tests count toward my follow-up testing requirement?+
No. Follow-up tests are specifically directed by your SAP and are separate from random pool selection. You remain in the random pool while also completing your follow-up testing plan.