From the DOT Publication Best Practices for Random Drug and Alcohol Testing.
When an employee receives a notification, the individual must proceed immediately to the collection site. Contrary to urban legends circulating among some workers, “immediately” does not mean two hours. It means that after notification, every action the employee takes must lead directly to a specimen collection.
Why? Because it preserves the integrity of the testing process.
Best Practice: Many employers create random testing procedures or policies that clearly state what activities are acceptable after notification. For example, some policies specify which safety-sensitive duties agency regulations allow employees to finish. If a worker receives a notification while working off-site or on the road, company policies must spell out exactly what to do before resuming safety-sensitive functions. That eliminates confusion about what the employer expects.
Note to Service Agents and Consortia/Third Party Administrators: Owner-operators and other employers who perform safety-sensitive duties create unique notification challenges. If you are a service agent or C/TPA providing random selections and notices to an owner-operator, you must maintain written procedures. These procedures must explain how to notify them and what to do after notification, including where and when to report to a specific collection site. You must also define in writing what counts as a refusal to test if the individual fails to appear after being notified. Provide these documents to owner-operators and self-employed workers in safety-sensitive roles.
