DOT Drug Test

Service Description

Who is Subject to DOT Drug Tests? According to the DOT employee handbook on alcohol and drug testing procedures, the department’s goal is to “employ operators who are 100 percent drug- and alcohol-free.” However, operators aren’t the only DOT employees subject to drug testing requirements. Any position considered safety-sensitive falls under the testing requirements. The DOT looks at job duties, not just job titles, when determining whether a position qualifies as safety-sensitive. Some safety-sensitive tasks include:  Driving a truck  Working on a pipeline  Repairing an airplane  Operating a ferry, bus, or train What Substances Does DOT Test For? DOT testing is conducted for both alcohol and drugs. The drugs that DOT tests look for include the following:  Marijuana/THC  Cocaine  Amphetamines (including methamphetamine)  Opiates (including heroin, codeine, and morphine)  Phencyclidine (PCP) According to numbers provided by the DOT, marijuana and amphetamines were the most commonly found substances as a result of DOT testing for commercial motor vehicle drivers in 2015. Overall, positive results remain low for commercial drivers. In 2015, just 1.85% of DOT test results were positive; however, that is still more than the DOT would like to see to ensure transportation safety across the country. What Tests are Used for DOT Testing? The DOT uses urine collection and testing exclusively for drug testing. Alcohol may be tested for using breath and saliva. All three testing methods used by the DOT are non-intrusive. When are DOT Tests Conducted? There are a number of situations when DOT employees may be subject to drug testing. The most common situations include:   Pre-employment Screening   Reasonable Cause  Random Tests  Post-Accident  Return-to-Duty Testing  Follow-Up Tests