The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has very strict rules for drug and alcohol testing for transportation jobs. Drivers and employers must follow the DOT drug testing process, which requires DOT random drug testing services.
Random drug and alcohol testing programs are in place to keep everyone safe on the road. If you own a trucking company, you will need to have pre-employment testing conducted on each CDL driver prior to hiring them. The results of the pre-employment tests for alcohol testing and drug testing will determine if they are eligible to provide safety-sensitive functions in accordance with their commercial driver’s license.
However, random drug and alcohol testing will play a role in your DOT compliance. When it comes to drug testing, alcohol testing, or both, random testing may put your trucking business to the test. Simplex Group is committed to helping you stay compliant with DOT agencies for drug testing.
In this blog post, we provide information on random testing for drug tests and alcohol tests to help you avoid trouble on the road ahead to a successful trucking venture.
What DOT Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Entails
DOT-regulated employees, including CDL drivers, are required to submit to random drug and alcohol testing throughout the course of their employment. While they must pass during their pre-employment screening, random drug and alcohol testing will be required.
This random testing means that at any time, DOT drug tests which test for illicit drugs as well as prescription medications may be assigned. It also means that random testing through an alcohol test may arise. Random drug testing is usually done through a urine drug test; however, it may also require oral fluid, blood alcohol concentration tests, and sampling from hair follicles.
With random drug and alcohol testing, drivers are selected for random testing for drug and alcohol use and notified immediately. In some cases, workplace drug testing occurs on-site, though in other cases, they may need to report to a special laboratory collection site for drug tests. Random drug and alcohol testing should be noted as something that may occur at any time during an employee’s course of employment.
A compliant employee will not need to worry about these random tests and will likely pass. However, if a driver fails a random drug test or random alcohol testing, they will face significant consequences.
Importance of Complying with DOT Regulations
DOT drug testing is merely one of the many components of compliance with federal regulations. Abiding by these regulations keeps everyone on the road safe and ensures that an employee can perform safety sensitive functions.
Such testing is imperative for every motor carrier to ensure they do not breach these requirements. Just like hours of service and other regulations, employers have a duty to uphold them, and when random drug and alcohol testing reveals substance abuse, it is vital to uphold the rules.
As the owner of a trucking company, you don’t want to take any chances with non-compliance. This could result in hefty fines and the end of your business.
How Often Are DOT Drug Tests Required?
Drug and alcohol testing are required prior to hiring an employee. Beyond that, drivers are selected at random to be tested at least once per year for drug testing or alcohol testing. A drug test will also be administered after a truck accident if there were injuries, fatalities, or the trucker received a citation.
Reasonable suspicion of drug use may also warrant additional drug testing. If an employee fails, they will be required to undergo additional drug testing before they return to duty and follow-up testing after their return.
Benefits of Following DOT Requirements for Random Drug and Alcohol Testing
Adhering to drug and alcohol testing is beneficial for everyone as it keeps the roads safe as well as improves metrics for the transportation industry. DOT random drug testing can also help trucking company owners and owner operators alike avoid serious consequences, including hefty fines and legal issues.
You’ll be able to have confidence that the drivers you employ are capable of performing safety sensitive functions when you randomly test them. It lowers your liability as a motor carrier when you abide by the DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements.
What Happens to CDL Drivers Who Fail DOT Random Drug and Alcohol Testing?
It is a matter of public safety when a trucker fails drug testing. When you receive word about positive test results for a truck driver in your fleet, you must remove them from any safety-sensitive function immediately.
With random drug and alcohol testing, trucking companies have a duty as well. Positive results mean that you must update the federal register on the Clearinghouse records within three days of receipt. The records will stay in place for five years or until the trucker has completed their processes for return to duty.
Employers must be vigilant and ensure that these steps are taken to avoid incurring problems of their own in the trucking industry.
How Simplex Group Can Help with DOT Compliance for Employers
Drug and alcohol testing is an important part of DOT compliance, though it isn’t the only thing you need to monitor to avoid trouble. There is a great potential risk of missing key metrics in safety compliance reviews, and when you miss something, there will be fines and quite possibly, the suspension of your operations.
Rather than worry, let Simplex Group help ensure that everything with your trucking business is in order. Our DOT safety compliance services ensure all paperwork is filed and maintained to help you meet all regulations, including those for drug and alcohol testing. Everything you need is in one convenient place to put you on the road to success. DOT drug and alcohol testing is merely one of many rules you must follow. If you need help with DOT numbers, DOT random drug testing, driver screening, and insurance, contact Simplex Group to get everything you need for safety compliance.