It is not uncommon for people to try to defeat a drug test, either by substitution or adulteration. Substitution simply means they smuggle in someone else's urine, or synthetic urine. Adulteration means they add an adulterant to their specimen which can make it invalid. To prevent this from occurring, sometimes an observer accompanies the individual [...]
When an employee submits to a urine drug test, the following specific steps must be followed by the collector. These are for Federal collections, but are generally followed for non-DOT tests a well. A donor who does not cooperate with the process may be considered to have refused to test. Download PDF here: DOT-Collection-Instructions When [...]
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 [...]
Keep up with FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse regulations or get help, now! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many employers and owner/operators requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for work, think use of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is voluntary or on-hold. It’s not. The Clearinghouse has been up [...]
In the midst of a global pandemic with confusing and conflicting information about how the coronavirus is transmitted, many breath alcohol technicians are uncomfortable conducting breath tests. Makes sense. Even with precautions, including using a private area outdoors, there is an individual exhaling strongly in close proximity to the BAT (Breath Alcohol Technician). The BAT [...]
