refusal

Just a little side note here...
There are some companies that give you a "field test" kit to carry in the truck with you. My husbands company is one.It has an "instant" test, as well as a collection bottle and big ol' cardboard carrier to be mailed. He can be asked to give a "sample" (in front of a DOT officer) AT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE...while out here OTR.

Judi Kay

 

And pray you don't get a Safety guy with a "sense of humor". Twice ours has stood and watched me go to the guys room as soon as I pull in (that last cuppa I had 100 miles ago is making my eyes water) and THEN informing me I have a random.

Have you any idea how much soda an water an coffee you gotta drink to be able to fill up that little bottle?

 

I tell all of my students before you accept a truck test drive it or check it out because once you accept it it's yours. It's easy to get a different truck assigned to you as long as you have not accepted one yet. I also suggest to them to read their student handbook along with the company drivers manual because even though I try and cover everything i'm human and might miss something. Sometimes there is no one to blame and you have to take responsibility for you're own actions.

 

dont you have to sign a paper from saftey before you go for the test?
i know at my company we have to sign a paper and once we sign it we have 3 hours to go pee...
is the same at all/most/some companies?
if so, did the OP sgin a paper??

 

I think everyone here missed a key part of his statement...they called him at home to come down and do a random....sorry, but I'm at home will get it as soon as my home time is done.

What if he had already had a beer when he walked in his front door? He is on personal time..not on company time!

In my opinion...you have a wrongful termination case with this one! If you can document you were at home when they called!

 

The companies I worked for would get you as soon as you came back on duty . One would say "I don't have a load for you in the morning . Be at the office at 9 a.m." . That was the time the clinic opened .

 

I'd have to question the legality of that .Once notified to proceed to be tested they are not supposed to be allowed any safety related duties . There is also the question of how soon after being notified before he located a DOT officer .

 

This field test kit is for use "in the presence of" a DOT official. Urine tests are temperature sensitive...the contents must be inspected and tested at the time of "deposit"...if the sample is below a minimum temperature it does not qualify as a "true and accurate" test. The sample must be tested for temperature to be legal...ergo, no "sample is in the mail" will suffice the DOT regs.

 

I also wonder how many DOT officers re certified to give drug tests . You know if any were that would be an added feature of chicken coop harassment . Now this could be just a company policy to try to intimidate drivers but the tests are meaningless .

 

The field test kit is to ensure the urine sample goes to the carrier's lab using their account number. The test kit would be used for a post accident or random drug test as directed by the carrier.

Roadside officers would use a field sobriety test and perhaps a field breath kit to do a preliminary test. If the officer's suspicions were confirmed and the driver's BAC was .04 or above the driver would be arrested for DUI. If the BAC was .02 - .039999 the driver would be at a minimum placed OOS for 24 hours plus cited for the offense under Part 382. If the driver has any alcohol in their system they may be placed OOS for 24 hours and cited under Part 392.

Roadside officers typically follow state guidelines regarding drug test. If an officer suspected the driver was under the influance of narcotics a Drug Interdiction Assistance Program (DIAP) officers would be summonded to do the preliminary test. If the driver failed they would be arrested and tested at a state, county, or city facility.

The officers would not use the carrier's field test kit as it is private property.

Be safe.