Drug Testing Q

Does the company conduct ANY random drug and alcohol testing?

Find that out first.

It is possible to test pre-employment and NOT be chosen for a random, even for 5 whole years depending on the size of the 'pool' of testable CDL employees.

I wouldn't set up a personal drug test as it will generate possibly mucho confusion at the clinic and at the clearing house.

The company, if it is ignoring 'randoms, etc.' they will be hurting when the DOT finds out.

Drug and alcohol fines, unlike anything else discovered during an audit, are not negotiable and the amounts can be huge.

 

Just because they have a DOT number doesn’t mean they have to drug test. Could be farm trucks. “They’re not a trucking company but have trucks”. Not enough details for anyone to give a clear answer.

 

Thanks for the tag. Yes, the drug testing progra.m compliance is the motor carrier's responsibility and the driver has little to worry about personally. The company faces severe fines and having their authority pulled if they are caught deliberately opersring a CDL required vehicle without a compliant program in place.

Now that the Clearinghouse has come about it is easier for the roadside inspection officer to discover the lack of a drug testing program, because they can pull up the driver and company record to see if a Clearinghouse query had ever been completed and when they find it hasn't they can refer to an auditor for investigation.

As for getting your own drug test as a driver, don't bother. The results are not valid unless it is the program administered by the motor carrier so you are just wasting your time and money. The best way to come into compliance is to have the company sign up for a random consortium program, complete a pre-employment test and run a full query in the Clearinghouse.

 

Why did you say they’re not a trucking company?

 

Just to be clear, your company is the one who sets up the drug test for you..they order it. If you’re doing one independently it means absolutely nothing in regards to the regulations.

Your company sets up the initial pre-employment test and all others are random tests through a consortium. The company doesn’t get to pick when you get a random so I’m puzzled by you saying that you just set an appointment for one.

The only other time you could get tested is for reasonable suspicion by your employer..and there’s strict guidelines on this.

Your company needs to be enrolled in the clearinghouse as well as a consortium. They must have a Pre-employment drug screen in your driver file.

They also need quarterly reports from the consortium on file showing that you were either picked for a test or not.

If they are really that stupid I’d suggest them getting up to speed ASAP. Get a pre-employment test done and on file and get you into a consortium.

Better late than never imo. Will at least show good faith in becoming compliant.

Worst case they get shutdown..
Best case they pay in excess of $5k for each violation.