Drug testing safety-sensitive employees helps ensure everyone’s safety when traveling. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all safety-sensitive employees to submit to a drug test. DOT drug testing began back in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan implemented the Drug-Free Workplace Program as part of the war on drugs. It required, both, pre-employment drug testing and Read more »
Compliance
Breaker 1-9: DOT Announces End to Contacting Previous Employers
Truckers keep trucking and time keeps rolling along—those are two facts you can count on. The Department of Transportation (DOT) brought both into focus when they announced that Friday, January 6, 2023, marks the date that employers no longer need to contact previous employers. The date was set on the opening day of the Federal Read more »
Has the DOT Approved the Mouth Swab Test Yet?
On February 28, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced its proposed change to regulations to allow oral fluid testing as an approved alternative to urine testing in the DOT-regulated drug and alcohol testing program. The DOT extended the public comment period from the end of March to April 29th. Now, it’s October already. Read more »
DOT Issues Strict Return-to-Duty Reminder to SAPs
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice earlier this week directed at Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP). Apparently, some of them have violated proper Return-to-Duty protocol. Of course, this puts them out of compliance and subject to disciplinary action. Worse, though, their misconduct may compromise public safety. The SAPs not following the proper protocol Read more »
What is the DOT Chain of Custody?
The Department of Transportation outlines the process that all safety-sensitive employers must follow in regard to drug testing. The DOT chain of custody documents everyone who handles the test specimen along the way. To make things even more concrete, collectors, lab techs, and MROs record their part of the process on the Custody and Control Read more »
Duties of a DOT DER
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the employers of the safety-sensitive workforce. As you can imagine, there are rules and regulations galore—all to keep the public safe while on the roads. However, infringing on them can equal penalties and fines for the business owner. For instance, every company regulated by the DOT has at least Read more »