Hello,
I have a class A CDL and used to drive OTR. I now pull a 32' wells cargo trailer. My company want me to get a hazmat so I can haul Oxidizers.

Does the state randomly drug test a hazmat driver or does the company? I've always wondered what an Owner operator does with a hazmat as far as testing goes. I'm not sure if my company will want to pay for many tests every year if it is mandatory.


Thanks for any input.

When I got Hazmat here in Massachusetts, the only thing I had to do was be fingerprinted for a background check by Homeland Security. As far as drug testing, that took place when I went with Swift. From what I understand a company can bring you in for random testing.

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Drug testing is mandated by the Federal government, which in turn requires companies to test their drivers. The higher the positive results, the higher the frequency of tests required. Kinda like vehicle inspections in that regard. But as far as I know, Hazmat quals don't require any additional screening for illegal substances. Just background check and fingerprinting.

My company only needs be to haul once a month at most. Does the govt know who my employer is in regards to my hazmat? I feel like most big trucking companies test often to save on insurance costs. If my company is not a trucking company will I need to be tested?
Thanks a lot for the info.

uuuh - if you drive a truck using a CDL, you are part of the company's 'testing pool'. If you are the only driver, you're gonna get tested at least once a year. Hazmat doesn't matter - it's the truck part that gets you tested. And no, it won't matter if you haul private (not-forhire - haul your own goodies).

The company is required byt the Federal Govt (not the local state) to perform the test - but what they actually do is hire it out to certified testing companies.

Standard testing is random.. I think 25% of the pool per year (if testing is done more than once a year, your name can come up each time, since the selectees are chosen from the entire pool each time)

IF there is sufficient reason, (i.e. somebody points the finger at you, and the management thinks there's sufficient cause) you can be pulled in on no notice for a 'suspicion' test.

And, of course, if the company wants to foot the bill, they can do random sweeps whenever they want - the gov't guidelines are minimums.

For more details, check out your DOT book - it's all in there.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

My company is not a trucking company. I drive a trailer once a month and am the only one that drives it.

Doesn't matter if you aren't a trucking company. As I said, you drive a truck. Law requires a certain percentage of the pool be tested. Since you are the only driver, and they can't test a percentage of you, you'll get dinged every time.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

Am I the only one who thinks that there is something wrong with this question?

Who cares if someone has you pee in a cup?

The BIGGER issue is why this is worrying you................

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The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. — Albert Einstein

Nah - I see it as curiosity, which is a good thing. Now, if he were asking "is there a way around drug testing?" I'd be worried.

Knowing how the system works is a good thing - it helps keep you from getting burned.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

I'd be very concerned on who is doing my testing. I'd want to know if they do it right since your career is on the line. I've seen labs that break rules like chain of custody and I've seen some that do it right. We had a problem for awhile in finding the right lab to do our testing. Most do not know the difference in a DOT and NON-DOT test so a good lab is hard to find unless you're in a large city.