# Is an employer responsible for obtaining information from its service agents?

- **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:** Not available
- **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.
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- **body characters:** 598