In a DOT drug testing program, the end of each quarter is a hectic time. This is because most of our DOT clients are regulated by the FMCSA. The FMCSA requires that each individual selected for random testing be tested in the period in which s/he is selected. At InOut Labs, we perform DOT [...]
The days when truck drivers would drive for 48 hours around the country on coffee and amphetamines should be long gone. This dangerous behavior is not only a bad choice, but also illegal. Since 1991 commercial driver license (CDL) holders have been subject to federally mandated drug and alcohol testing. If you are wondering whether [...]
For owner-operators, it’s critical for your business to stay in compliance with government regulations. Here’s an Owner Operator DOT compliance checklist to help you stay on top of the most common compliance requirements. 1) Drug and Alcohol Testing Owner-operators are required to participate in a Department of Transportation (DOT) Drug and Alcohol testing program. A [...]
As an Owner Operator, when you take on employees, your DOT FMCSA requirements change. 1) Written Drug & Alcohol Testing Policy Owner Operators do not really need to have a written substance abuse policy. Employers do. FMCSA regulation Part 382 specifically requires that employers have a written policy that is distributed to each driver. 362.601 [...]
The opioid epidemic presents serious challenges for employers. And most employers don't test for many commonly abused opioids. In 2018, the federal government added what is called "expanded opiates" to the DOT drug test panel. The expanded panel now includes many commonly prescribed pain killers and the result has been an increase in safety concern [...]
Suppose you send a driver out with a shipment to a customer, and in the meantime, their DOT drug test results return positive. According to the FMCSA, the employer is legally obliged to remove the driver from their safety-sensitive duties immediately. That means immediately. Meaning NOW. However, with your shipment already on the way, and if you [...]
Remaining Compliant Through COVID-19 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an Enforcement Notice, extending the waiver of random drug and alcohol testing for certain interstate transportation employers involved in the Coronavirus response through Feb.28, 2021. The notice, released on Dec. 15, is part of the agency’s first-ever national Emergency Declaration, in response to [...]
Use Can Lead to Positive Marijuana Test Can federally regulated truck drivers safely and legally use Cannabidiol (CBD) products? The simple answer is “No.” The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have made it clear that commercial drivers who use CBD products may test positive for marijuana, which [...]
Urine Today, Your Hair 2021 It took an act of Congress and six years of waiting, but at long last federal guidelines for hair-sample drug tests specific to the trucking industry will be made available in 2021. The FAST Act (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act) was signed into law, December 2015, with provisions for highway [...]
When a driver fails or refuses a drug or alcohol test, it gets very ugly for him or her. And complicated. Employers and drivers need to understand the Return To Duty process. This is very important. Once a Substance Abuse Professional is selected, the driver must designate the SAP in the Clearinghouse. And a SAP [...]
