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Need-To-Know DOT Drug Screening Basics

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The Department of Transportation (DOT), established by Congress in 1966, is an executive department of the federal government. The DOT is responsible for organizing and overseeing federal transportation projects as well as setting safety standards for all major modes of transportation.

While mention of the DOT may bring certain industries to mind (i.e. aviation, railroads, public transportation, etc.) there are a lot of duties that require DOT oversight. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the following are also subject to certain DOT safety regulations:

  • An operator of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating (whichever is greater) of 4,537 kg (10,001 lbs.) or more (GVWR, GCWR, GVW, or GCW)
  • An operator of a vehicle designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) for compensation, whether direct or indirect
  • An operator of a vehicle designed or used to transport 15 or more passengers including the driver and not used for compensation
  • An operator of any size vehicle used in the transportation of materials found to be hazardous for the purposes of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and which require the motor vehicle to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Regulations.

If an organization is hiring for a position that requires the operation of a vehicle as described above, certain DOT onboarding protocols will have to be followed, namely, proper DOT screening.

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Common Questions

 

When is DOT substance testing necessary?

In general, any CDL driver who operates commercial motor vehicles on public roads in the U.S. is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing. This includes all full-time, part-time, and backup drivers. Such testing is required in the interest of public safety.

What does DOT substance testing entail?

DOT substance tests involve collection at an approved facility as well as laboratory testing of the specimen. Instant tests are not DOT compliant.

Substances tested include the following classes of drugs:

  • THC
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates
  • Amphetamines
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)

The DOT does not prohibit organizations from testing for drugs in addition to those above, nor do they prohibit the implementation of supplementary (non-DOT) testing programs on DOT-regulated drivers so long as all DOT requirements are met.

Alcohol testing is also required. An initial screening is conducted in order to determine if alcohol is present in the blood. If the test is positive, meaning a BAC of 0.02% or higher, then a follow-up test must be administered.

When are tests administered?

The DOT mandates tests be administered on multiple occasions given a number of circumstances. The following types of tests are common, and in some cases, required:

  • Pre-Employment Testing
  • Random Testing
  • Post-Accident Testing
  • Reasonable Suspicion Testing
  • Return-to-Duty Testing after a positive test; and/or,
  • Follow-up Testing

Testing Failures

Refusal to submit a drug test and testing positive are generally treated the same. The same goes for violating FMCSA regulations during a substance test.

If an individual fails a test, they must be immediately removed from safety-sensitive duties and not permitted to return until they complete the return-to-duty process.

DOT Random Testing

While some DOT drug testing procedures are fairly cut-and-dry, random testing best practices can be harder to pinpoint. There are a number of legalities surrounding random drug testing so establishing a compliant program is very important.

Random testing program is required for DOT-regulated employers.

Here are the main things to consider when establishing a DOT random drug test plan:

What are your testing rates?

DOT agencies set the testing rates. For example, some agencies may require a 50 percent drug testing rate and a 10 percent alcohol testing rate annually. Regulated employers must meet these minimums.

Who gets tested?

Any employee who carries out safety-sensitive duties and falls under the umbrella of DOT regulation must be included in random testing pools. This includes supervisors, volunteers, contractors, and owners.

IMPORTANT TIP: Always keep your DOT drug testing program (including random testing pools) separate from any non-DOT testing program you have implemented.

How are employees selected?

Selection must be entirely random. Number-based computer generators are the most common. Selection practices such as numbers from a hat, dice roll, etc. are unacceptable.

Once selected, employees must be discreetly notified. If they are not available for a scheduled test, they may either be excused from testing for that selection cycle (usually for legitimate extended absences) or required to test at their earliest return, depending on the circumstances.

How are plans properly maintained?

The overall success of your DOT random drug test plan hinges on two things:

  • Adherence to DOT testing guidelines
  • Diligent documentation

If your organization learns and follows the guidelines and documents the entire random testing process including names, dates, and collection times, there shouldn’t be too many problems.

DOT Post Accident Testing

In the event of an accident involving a commercial vehicle (on a public road in commerce), the DOT requires prompt substance screening. The first step in the process is determining the type of accident. There are three main types of accidents to consider:

Fatality accident

A drug and alcohol test is always required.

Bodily injury accident 

These are accidents where immediate medical treatment is required. If a driver receives a citation within 8 hours of the accident, then an alcohol test is required. If issued a citation within 32 hours of the accident, a drug test is required.

Tow-away accident 

These are accidents where one or more vehicles needed to be towed. If a driver receives a citation within 8 hours of the accident, then an alcohol test is required. If issued a citation within 32 hours of the accident, a drug test is required.

Learn more here:

DOT Reasonable Suspicion Testing

According to the FMCSA:

“The request to undergo a reasonable suspicion test must be based on specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the appearance, behavior, speech, or body odor of the driver.  These observations may include indications of the chronic and withdrawal effects of controlled substances.”

If a drug test is not administered within 8 hours of the observed behavior that led to suspicion, the attempts to administer the test must cease and the driver must refrain from operation for 24 hours. All proceedings must be carefully documented and archived.

Takeaways

The DOT has its own set of unique guidelines and protocols when it comes to screening regulated employees who carry out safety-sensitive duties. The basics are simple but the specifics can be exhaustive. Any employer with DOT oversight should understand these screening processes very well, choosing a screening provider that also has extensive knowledge of DOT best practices.

For more information on how to conduct DOT substance testing, here is a full description of procedures for transportation workplace drug and alcohol testing programs.

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