Carriers are responsible for ensuring compliance with various DOT regulations, especially regarding drug and alcohol testing. To achieve carrier compliance, all commercial drivers under DOT regulations must undergo regular tests. Here is everything carriers must know about DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements for commercial drivers.
Pre-Employment Testing
Drug and alcohol testing requirements are very strict in the transportation industry. Commercial drivers must pass pre-employment tests before being hired by carriers.
These pre-employment tests are designed to show whether or not prospective commercial drivers might have or be predisposed to drug or alcohol-related issues. Drivers who do not pass these tests are usually considered ineligible to operate commercial vehicles safely as their behavior could compromise road safety.
Random Testing
When a trucking company hires commercial drivers, carriers are still obligated to implement random drug and alcohol testing programs. Random testing occurs each year, but not all drivers are tested.
Each company will have a predetermined percentage of drivers to be selected for these tests. The selection process should be random and unbiased. Random testing aims to deter drug and alcohol usage among commercial drivers.
The randomness of the selection helps keep drivers responsible for their job-related duties and provides a means of monitoring compliance continuously.
Post-Accident Testing
Carriers must conduct drug and alcohol testing on their drivers if they are involved in certain types of truck accidents. Post-accident testing criteria should be conducted on drivers who were involved in accidents resulting in:
- Injuries
- Fatalities
- Vehicle-disabling damage
- Every accident that requires towing or immediate medical treatment
Post-accident testing helps to establish whether drug or alcohol use contributed to the incident.
Reasonable Suspicion Testing
Carriers must perform testing if they have reasonable suspicion that a driver is impaired. Suspicion can be formed based on observations of appearance, behavior, smell, or other impairment indicators. Carriers must train supervisors to recognize such signs and conduct reasonable suspicion testing.
Drivers who have been discovered violating safety rules must be placed off duty and should only return to work if they pass the return-to-duty testing and other follow-up tests to ensure safety.
Return-to-Duty- and Follow-up Testing
All drivers who were impaired and violated drug and alcohol regulations must complete the return-to-duty process should they wish to return to work. These processes always include an extra evaluation conducted by a substance abuse professional.
Only drivers who have successfully completed the return-to-duty process can return to work. However, carriers must subject drivers to follow-up tests. Some of these tests should be announced to ensure compliance.
Testing Methods and Standards
DOT drug and alcohol testing must be conducted only through approved laboratories and follow strict procedures to ensure accuracy and integrity and deter the falsification of results. The samples analyzed in DOT drug tests include the following classes of drugs:
- Opiates (opium or codeine derivatives)
- Cocaine or marijuana
- Amphetamines and methamphetamines
- Phencyclidine – PCP
When it comes to DOT alcohol tests, samples are analyzed to determine whether a driver has a blood alcohol content of 0.02% or higher.
The results of these tests will be reported to the carrier, but employers also have the right to request tests for other drugs if they have reasonable suspicion.
Carrier Responsibilities
Not complying with DOT regulations related to drug or alcohol testing can result in loss of operating authority, penalties, and various other legal consequences. Carriers are responsible for maintaining accurate records, training employees, establishing written policies, and selecting reputable testing vendors to comply with DOT regulations. Therefore, carriers must develop and implement comprehensive drug and alcohol testing programs.