Last updated : May 12, 2025
Failing a drug test is serious business. It’s no wonder that the Department of Transportation (DOT) mandates that safety-sensitive employers immediately remove drivers from service until the issue is resolved. There may be some type of error that caused a false positive result. If that’s not the case, the driver can’t get behind the wheel of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Not until they regroup and get themselves road-ready.
The DOT created the Return-to-Duty process to assist drivers in doing just that.
When a driver fails a drug or alcohol test, the violation is reported to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Their status is changed to “prohibited.” It won’t be removed until the Clearinghouse receives notification that the return-to-duty process is complete.
The status remains on the driver’s record for five years if the driver chooses not to complete the process. Otherwise, the Clearinghouse is notified when the Return-to-Duty process is complete.
One step at a time
The Return-to-Duty process is broken down into five steps. Steps 2 and 5 take some time to work through, but once completed, the “prohibited” status is removed from the driver’s record. The driver is considered road-ready, and all systems are set to “go.”
Step 1: Choose an SAP
Employers are required to supply the driver with a list of DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) when they are removed from service. The driver can choose one from the list or find one on their own. Once the decision is made, the driver needs to log in to their Clearinghouse account to officially designate their choice.
This allows the SAP to access the account to make progress updates.
Step 2: SAP Evaluation and Treatment
The SAP meets with the driver to conduct a treatment evaluation. The average cost of the evaluation is between $200 and $500.
After it’s completed, the SAP uses the information to determine what type of education or full-blown treatment plan best meets the driver’s needs. The plan can include a recommendation for counseling, education programs, or possibly admitting themselves to a rehabilitation center for treatment.
Once the plan is completed successfully, the SAP updates the status in the Clearinghouse. Then, the driver is eligible to take the Return-to-Duty drug test.
Step 3: Return-to-Duty drug test
The Return-to-Duty drug test must be scheduled by either the employer or a third-party administrator (TPA). A negative test result allows the driver to return to work. But even though they’re road-ready, the process has a couple of steps left.
Step 4: Update Clearinghouse status
With a negative result under their belt, the TPA or employer records the result in the Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse shows the driver’s status as “not prohibited.” They’re free to legally resume driving a CMV.
It’s important to note that even though the status is changed to “not prohibited,” the violation remains open until all follow-up testing has been completed.
Step 5: Follow-up testing
Your SAP and your employer will work together to create a follow-up testing plan. The plan consists of scheduling six random drug or alcohol tests within the first year after the driver returns to work. The goal, of course, is to ensure the driver is staying in compliance and not using drugs or alcohol when on the road.
And, hopefully, it’s an indicator that they have found a way to cope with their substance use disorder (SUD) that doesn’t include using.
Regrouped and road-ready
Participating in the Return-to-Duty process proves a commitment to safe driving. It allows the employee to regain their livelihood and move forward with their lives. Moreover, it proves a commitment to road safety. Both their own and the safety of others with whom they share the road.
