DOT Compliance Group LLC “Drug & Alcohol Testing” Explained!
Drug and alcohol testing programs hold critical importance in the transportation industry. The Department of Transportation considers it very essential in their mission to make roads safer. Use and abuse of drugs or alcohol put the general public at risk and so it becomes very important for governing authorities to monitor and control and keep truck and bus drivers, locomotive engineers, subway operators, armed security personnel and others under strict compliance. According to studies it is clear that over time the number of road crashes and vehicular accidents associated with drug and alcohol use have declined. But we need to understand that safety-sensitive employees are still every bit human and this puts the risk back into the equation. We have to eliminate every risk that is posed by illegal drug and alcohol use and/or misuse in the transportation industry. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines every CDL driver with a vehicle of a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or above has to register with a Drug and Alcohol Consortium. Not just this but every driver of a bus that can house 16 passengers or more also needs to register with a Drug and Alcohol Consortium. (CFR PART 382.107 & 49 & CFR PART 40)
Random Drug & Alcohol Testing In order to curb substance use in the workplace, random drug and alcohol testing is highly recommended. You can implement a random drug and alcohol testing program if you feel that your company’s current testing program doesn’t have the effect you intended. If it is not able to reduce workplace incidents or bring desired test results or if you are not able to meet U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) regulations, it is time to opt for a random test. You as a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) holder are required to be enrolled in a compliant random drug & alcohol testing program if you operate a vehicle that weighs over 26,000 lbs or a passenger vehicle that can seat 16 or more.
DOT Requires the Following Testing Situations ● ● ● ● ● ●
Pre-Employment - the file should have no previously done negative drug test Random Test Selection - random selection of the employee during testing period Reasonable Suspicion - supervisor will determine it for testing Return-To-Duty - previously done positive test would require testing Follow-Up - after employee returns to duty an additional random test is required Post-Accident - required in case of fatality, citation for moving violation with disabled vehicle or citation for moving violation along with medical treatment for any person away from accident.
How DOT Compliance Group LLC Helps DOT Compliance Group LLC has been serving the trucking industry with DOT compliance services. You can be a part of our random drug and alcohol testing pool any time you want. You may join this program for a low annual fee.
When are the Test Results Available? Alcohol test results are typically immediate. Though do bear in mind that All DOT drug tests are sent for laboratory and MRO (Medical Review Officer) evaluation. If your tests are negative, they will be updated in the system and communicated to you usually within 2-3 business days via your registered email. If a sample is found to be “presumptive positive” due to some medication prescribed by a doctor or a physician, the MRO will contact the donor to get in touch directly with the doctor to confirm
the same. If the prescription was provided and the detection levels are well within the range of the prescription, they will be considered as negative. We hold safety in the highest regard and are committed to ensure complete freedom from drug and alcohol abuse. As an employer you should take steps to ensure that your employees know and understand what it would entail personally and professionally if they fail to comply. Apart from this supervisors need to be trained well so they can easily identify signs of drug and alcohol use/misuse in your organization. For more info. contact: DOT Compliance Group LLC PO Box 517 Princeton, LA, 71067 Phone: 855-368-7233 FAX: (225) 410-6752 Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram