Drug testing and HOS question?

Log department, or most likely simply edit the log next time one is in the truck.

Not rocket surgery here. No need to overthink it.

 

I think I’m now understanding your question. Back when I was at Stevens Transport, they did not call drivers for a random test if you were on time off: home time (as a remark on the logs). However, any other time you were back to work was an opportunity for a drug/alcohol test.

I was with Stevens for over 4 years, and I was selected for a drug/alcohol test many times while at the company’s yard. Only once was I selected while OTR.

Now, Stevens is mostly an OTR company. So I’m pretty sure they treat their local drivers differently. Alcohol is an automatic termination with them, except when on “official” home time and authorized by the driver manager. Being out on the road and doing a 34-hr restart does not count as home time at Stevens.

 

I never answer a call or text from my employer when off duty

 

Winner!

Heck, I rarely answer them when I'm on-duty.

 

This part of the FMCSA guidance explains it, and it also happens to be the way Stevens operates.

“If an employer does not want to notify the driver that he/she has been selected for a random controlled substances test while the driver is in an off-duty status, the employer could set aside the driver’s name for notification until the driver returns to work, as long as the driver returns to work before the next selection for random testing is made.”

 

You edit your logs when you get back to the truck. Or you call your log department and have them edit your log for that day and you approve it when you get back to the truck. Simple.

 

I doubt that would work for an OTR driver. He has to drive again at some point. If he’s lucky, he may be able to pull it off during a 34-hr restart.