{"operation":"document","citation":"49 CFR 40.17","title":"Is an employer responsible for obtaining information from its service agents?","source_type":"regulation","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"current","official":true,"published_on":null,"effective_on":"2026-08-18","summary":"Yes, as an employer, you are responsible for obtaining information required by this part from your service agents. This is true whether or not you choose to use a C/TPA as an intermediary in transmitting information to you. For example, suppose an applicant for a safety-sensitive job takes a pre-emp","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/49-cfr-40-17.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/49-cfr-40-17.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/49-cfr-40-17","source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-40.17","body":"Yes, as an employer, you are responsible for obtaining information required by this part from your service agents. This is true whether or not you choose to use a C/TPA as an intermediary in transmitting information to you. For example, suppose an applicant for a safety-sensitive job takes a pre-employment drug test, but there is a significant delay in your receipt of the test result from an MRO or C/TPA. You must not assume that “no news is good news” and permit the applicant to perform safety-sensitive duties before receiving the result. This is a violation of the Department's regulations.","truncated":false,"body_characters":598}