Frequently Asked Questions

After several significant transportation accidents, Congress passed the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, because they recognized the safety need for ensuring a drug- and alcohol-free transportation employees. The “Act” required DOT Agencies to implement drug testing of safety-sensitive transportation employees in the aviation, trucking (including school bus drivers, and certain limousine and van drivers), railroads, mass transit, and pipelines industries. In 1994, DOT added alcohol testing requirements to its regulations. These regulations can be found on our web site.

The DOT agencies (the Federal Aviation Administration [aviation], the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [trucking], the Federal Railroad Administration [rail], the Federal Transit Administration [mass transit] and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [pipeline]) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) [maritime] each have industry-specific regulations which in total cover approximately 12.1 million transportation employees who perform safety-sensitive functions. These regulations spell out who is subject to testing, when and in what circumstances.

​If you are an employer in the aviation, trucking, railroad, mass transit, pipeline or maritime industries, or if you have employees who perform DOT identified safety-sensitive positions, you must implement whichever regulation(s) apply.

​If you are an employee in the aviation, trucking, railroad, mass transit, pipeline or maritime industries, or if you work in a DOT identified the safety-sensitive position, you must comply with whichever regulation(s) apply.

​The DOT also has procedures which apply to all transportation employee Federal testing which can be found in another regulation, referred to here as “Part 40.” Each of the DOT agencies and the USCG follows Part 40 by including its procedures in their regulations.

Part 40 states: what specimens are collected; who performs the drug and alcohol tests; how to conduct those tests; what procedures to use when testing, and the mandatory return to duty requirements of an employee returning to safety-sensitive service following a DOT drug and/or alcohol rule violation.

A good rule of thumb is “comply, then complain.” If you are instructed to submit to a DOT drug and/or alcohol test and you don’t agree with the reason or rationale for the test, you should take the test.

​Don’t interfere with the testing process or refuse the test. Instead, after the test express your concerns about the testing event to your employer (for example, a detailed letter to your company or by an agreed-upon grievance procedure if you are a member of labor organization). You can also express your concern to the Drug and Alcohol Program Manager (DAPM) for the DOT agency that regulates you and your employer.

You will have the opportunity to speak directly with a Medical Review Officer (MRO). During your interview, you will have an opportunity to provide information and/or medical documentation to explain/support why your specimen was positive, adulterated or substituted. Based on the information you provide, the MRO will “verify” your result by determining whether or not there is a legitimate medical reason for your test result. The MRO will report your result to your employer only after making this determination.

​During the interview, the MRO will ask if you would like to verify the laboratory’s result by having your split or “B” specimen (your primary specimen is the “A” sample) sent to another laboratory for analysis. You will have 72 hours from the time the MRO verifies your result to request an analysis of your “B” specimen. Who pays for the analysis is between you and your employer, but the MRO cannot reject or hold up your request because of payment issues.

Your employer is required to immediately remove you from performing safety-sensitive functions. You will not be permitted to return to DOT-regulated safety-sensitive functions until you have:

• Undergone an evaluation by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). Your employer must provide you with a list of SAPs that you can use;
• Successfully completed any course, counseling or treatment prescribed by the SAP prior to returning to service;
• Undergone a follow-up evaluation by the same SAP to determine your compliance with their recommendations; AND
• Provided a breath and/or urine specimen that tests negative for drugs and/or alcohol prior to returning to DOT-regulated safety-sensitive functions.

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You will also be subject to unannounced “Follow-Up” testing for drugs and/or alcohol for at least 6 times during the first 12 months of active service with the possibility of unannounced testing for up to 60 months (as prescribed by the SAP). The Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up drug tests will be conducted under direct observation.

As an employer, you must provide employees with a list of SAPs qualified under §40.281. The regulation [§40.287] requires the employer to provide the employee with a list of qualified SAPs. Your failure to provide such a list could result in sanctions issued by the

DOT Modal Administration with jurisdiction over you.

As an employee, ask your employer for a list of SAPs in your area (even if the employer fired you or did not hire you). An SAP qualified to act in the DOT drug and alcohol testing program must meet the SAP qualification requirements in §40.281.

If your employer did not provide you with a list of qualified SAPs, below are some resources to help you find one:

• Search the internet using search terms such as “DOT qualified SAP” or “DOT and SAP”
• Search your State web site. For example:
  • South Carolina http://www.daodas.sc.gov/treatment/sap-registry-for-commercial-drivers/ (look for the SAP Registry)
  • Please know that neither the DOT nor any of its Agencies has or maintains a list of SAPs or any other service agents.

All employment decisions belong solely to the employer. DOT regulations do not address employment actions such as hiring, firing or leaves of absence. DOT and USCG regulation may prohibit you from performing your safety-sensitive functions after a positive test result or refusal to submit to testing. You should be aware that a positive, adulterated or substituted DOT drug or alcohol test may trigger consequences based on company policy or employment agreement.

Your test results are confidential. An employer or service agent (e.g., a testing laboratory, Medical Review Officer or Substance Abuse Professional) is not permitted to disclose your test result(s) without your written consent. In certain situations, however, your test information may be released without your consent; such as, legal proceedings, grievances, or administrative proceedings brought on by you or on your behalf, which resulted from a positive, adulterated, substituted test result or refusal. When your employer releases your drug and alcohol testing records, the employer must notify you in writing.

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Yes, your drug and alcohol testing history will follow you to your new employer. Employers are required by law to provide certain records of your DOT drug and alcohol testing history to your new employer, only when you sign a specific written release regarding that information. This is to ensure that, when necessary, you complete the return-to-duty process and your follow up testing program.

Most every community in the country has resources available to confidentially assist you through the evaluation and treatment of your problem. If you would like to find a treatment facility close to you, check with your local yellow pages, local health department or visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services treatment facility locator. This site provides contact information for substance abuse treatment programs by state, city and U.S. Territory.

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Also, many work-place programs are in place to assist employees and family members with substance abuse, mental health and other problems that affect their job performance. While these may vary by industry, here is an overview of programs that may be available to you:

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Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
While not required by DOT agency regulations, EAPs may be available to you as a matter of company policy. EAPs are generally provided by employers or unions. EAP programs vary considerably in design and scope. Some focus only on substance abuse problems, while others take a broad brush approach and include your health and family problems. Some programs include prevention, and health and wellness activities. Some are linked to your health benefits. With limited exceptions, these programs offer full privacy and confidentiality.

Voluntary Referral Programs
Often sponsored by employers or unions, referral programs provide an opportunity to self-report to your employer a substance abuse problem before you violate DOT and/or company rules. This gives you an opportunity for evaluation and treatment and may allow you to keep your job. Check with your employer to see if it offers a voluntary referral program.

Peer Reporting Programs
These programs which are generally sponsored by employers or unions, encourage you to identify co-workers with substance abuse problems because the safety of everyone depends on it. Using peers to convince troubled friends and co-workers who have a problem to seek help often guarantees the co-worker struggling with substance abuse issues the same benefits as if he had self-reported.

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(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, www.Transportation.gov)