DOT (FMCSA) COMPLIANCE

Precision Mobile Lab Testing conducts both DOT (Department of Transportation) regulated by the government and Non-DOT Testing. In order to remain DOT compliant, CDL drug and alcohol testing is required regardless of whether you are an owner operator, work for a trucking company, or own a trucking firm with hundreds or thousands of employees. All CDL drivers should be aware of DOT's requirements for drug & Alcohol testing. Precision Mobile Testing follows part 40, Guidelines. Failure to follow Department of Transportation regulations is against federal law, and severe penalties may result. You may be subject to daily fines of thousands of dollars, depending on how serious the offense was.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN AND EDUCATE YOURSELF MORE ABOUT PART 40 RULES AND REGUALTIONS

DOT COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST

  • A designated Drug testing provider for REQUIRED regulated testing

  • Pre-Employment Drug Test on file per each regulated driver

  • DER (Designated Employee Representative)

  • Supervisor Training

  • DOT policy in place, if you have 2+ Drivers working under you

  • SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) Provider

  • Random Drug & Alcohol consortium program

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A CDL driver is REQUIRED to complete a negative drug test prior to being employed as well as being enrolled for quarterly random drug & alcohol testing throughout the year. DOT uses urine as their current method of drug testing and may be tested for alcohol using a breath alcohol device. 

If an accident occurs, the driver must complete a post-accident test which includes the drug test along with a breath alcohol test. The drug test is to be completed within at least 24 hours from when the accident occurred, while the breath alcohol test must be completed within 8 hours from when then accident occurred.

FMCSA RANDOM DRUG TESTING RATES

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

AGENCY:

TESTING RATE FOR DRUG:

50%

TESTING RATE FOR ALCOHOL:

10%

DOT tests for the following drugs: 

  • AMP

  • Methamphetamines  

  • Cocaine

  • Marijuana

  •  Opiates

  • (Hydrocodone, hydromorphone. Oxycodone, Oxymorphone)

  • Phencyclidine (PCP)

In a breath alcohol, for DOT it will detect & report alcohol levels greater than 0.02. Any driver above the level of 0.02 is to not operate the safety sensitive position.

Reason for testing: 

  • Pre-Employment 

  • Random

  • Post-accident 

  • Return to Duty 

  • Follow up 

  • Reasonable suspicion

CDL OWNER OPERATOR

Choose Precision Mobile Testing to handle your DOT (Department of Transportation)-mandated drug and alcohol testing needs if you are a CDL owner who employs multiple drivers.

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DER: The DER stands for Designated Employee Representative. The role of the DER is one who is authorized taking immediate action to remove an employee from a safety sensitive position, making decisions when it comes to the testing process and receiving the results. The DER is also usually the ones to manage the drug and alcohol program if they have not hired anyone else to do so.

Random (DOT) Consortium: A consortium is a combined random drug and alcohol testing pool required for employers Regulated by the government U.S Department of transportation. The randoms are to be selected by a computer-generated system compliant with the DOT regulations. Selections are made quarterly throughout the year & testing must be completed within 24 hours of selection. You can learn more and register for a consortium by researching a DOT regulated consortium provider.

DOT Policy: You are required to implement a DOT Policy once you’ve reached the peak to where you’ve hired you first driver under your company. The DOT Policy is a written document that you will need to explain to the driver(s) as well as having them sign off on it in order to be employed with you. This policy includes regulations for drug and alcohol testing and allows you to decide if you’d like to enforce the DOT minimum or to enforce a strict policy that goes in depth on how you need to handle certain topics. Examples of certain topics can include, what happens when the driver can’t produce enough urine within the time frame of a Pre-Employment drug test? Will the driver be able to retake the test another time? Will they be automatically terminated after the first attempt? Will you allow the employee to complete the SAP program and give a second chance of employment to return back to duty?

Be sure that the policy includes the DOT guidelines for drug testing in Part 40.

Supervisor Training: Once you have hired your first driver under your company, be sure to have every member of management go through proper supervisor training. The purpose of this training is to educate supervisors on identifying reasonable suspicion within a driver who you suspect is using or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

SAP (Substance Abuse Professional): If a driver has obtained a CDL license and has failed a drug screening at some point, the SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) provider is the first step to return to duty. You would do so by researching a certified SAP provider, and the provider will dictate the time period of the program and what it will entail. When you start up your trucking company, be sure to research ahead of time a certified SAP Provider so that you have this information handy.

Clearinghouse: The clearinghouse is a secure online database giving employers, the FMCSA, & state law enforcement access to real-time information on a CDL driver’s drug and alcohol violations to ensure safety on the roadways. It is the employer’s responsibility to query the clearinghouse for prospect employees as well as annually for any current employee’s drug and alcohol violations (if any). To learn more about the clearinghouse and how to register CLICK HERE. (This link will redirect you to the FMCSA government webpage in which we are not associated with)

CDL Physical: The CDL Physical is a mandated health examination required by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) for commercial motor vehicle drivers. This exam will help determine if whether a driver is physically, mentally, & emotionally fit to operate a commercial motor vehicle. The exam can last about 30 minutes. All CDL holders are required to have a valid medical certificate on file in order to obtain your CDL & must comply with the regulations in part 383. You will need to undergo the exam every 2 years to obtain your CDL.

Below is what the CDL exam consists of:

  • Measuring important vital signs

  • Temperature

  • Blood pressure

  • Heart rate

  • evaluation to your body

  • urinalyses to check sugar

Post-Accident: Immediately after a CDL driver is involved in an accident, the Department of Transportation (DOT) Requires those who fall under the DOT FMCSA part 40 rules and regulations, must conduct a DOT regulated Drug test (within at-least 32 hours from when the accident occurred) & DOT regulated Breath alcohol test (within 8 hours from when the accident occurred). Notate any specifics such as why it may have taken the driver longer than 2 hours to complete a post-accident drug and alcohol test immediately after the accident occurred. We service all throughout the United States. Call or submit your online order to schedule a walk-in Post accident test.

For dot drug screening clinics near you, Contact Precision Mobile Testing to help locate a facility near you.