Alcohol and Drug Testing For DOT Regulated Operators

Drug & Alcohol Testing for DOT Regulated Owner/Operators
Alcohol and Drug Testing for DOT Regulated Operators
The main focus of government sectors and private organizations is safety regarding
transportation. In the department of transportation (DOT) an administration FMCSA was
established on 1st January 2000. The aim of FMCSA is to save commercial vehicles related to
injuries, fatalities and to ensure safety in motor vehicle operations by strict enforcement of safety
regulations. The U.S DOT oversees the biggest drug and alcohol analysis program in the United
States. The program is coordinated and managed by the Secretary of Transportation Office which
concerns the actions of transportations employers such as contractors, self-employed persons,
service agents, and volunteers. Commercial owner-operators have certain ambiguities when it
derives to drug testing. They need to be controlled and have self-discipline.
According to CFR 49 part 40, there is a significant difference between alcohol and drug testing.
The drug-testing program is intended at discouraging the use of illegitimate drugs, irrespective of
the frequency and pattern of use in correlation to the job. In contrast to this, the alcohol testing is
suitability for duty program intended at averting prohibited use of an allowed drink while the
operator is at work.
Here are two exceptions to the FMCSA administration for the drug and alcohol principles for owner-
operators:
49 CFR Part 382.601 - Draft a plan on the ill use of alcohol and use of arranged substances.
49 CFR Part 382.603 - Training for directors.
Since owners don't control other workers, it’s unnecessary for them to have a drug and alcohol plan. Since
you don’t manage any workers, you don’t have to do director training.
When Operators are examined by Drug and Alcohol Testing?
1. Pre-employment
2. Post-accident
3. Random
4. Reasonable Suspicion
5. Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up
1. Pre-Employment
Drug and alcohol testing should be conducted before an operator’s first time act in a safety-sensitive
place, either because of relocation from a non-safety-sensitive place or because of a fresh job proposal.
The operator must have a negative drug test report before entering safety-sensitive place.
2. Post Accident
The administrations should conduct post-accident tests of operators. The specimen must be collected if
the accidents involve loss of life or injury or when the operator violates traffic rules. The specimen for
alcohol test must be performed within 8 hours of the accident and the specimen for drug test must be
collected within 32 hours of the accident.
3. Random
Drug and alcohol testing should be performed at random even without advance notice at fixed rates,
which are decided by individual administrators based on last year's random positive rates. The FMCSA
sets the random testing rates for each year. Depending on the DOT positivity rates, the FMCSA random
drug testing rates can change. In general, the minimum annual percentage rate for random drug testing is
50% and the alcohol testing rate 10% of covered employees.
4. Reasonable Suspicion
Reasonable suspicion alcohol or drug test for operators is not prospective to take place. This is due to the
fact that it needs physical tests. A member of a group may have a reasonable suspicion to consider that an
operator is consuming alcohol or drug. They may decide to perform an alcohol and drug test. The
decision is focused on the driver's general, corroborating, and actionable observations. This includes the
driver's look, actions, and voice. Anyone who makes these decisions must have undergone the necessary
managerial training.
5. Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up
If the operator has an alcohol or drug violation then he should be removed from duty immediately and to
return to work he must be completed his treatment process. And the administration must recommend
following up tests that the operator must have to complete.
Drug Testing
Collection of Specimen
Firstly the urine specimen of the operator is collected by the trained individual who uses a specific
collection kit. The collector must take precautions to prevent the specimen from tampering such as toilet
water or dyeing. At least 45ml of sealed and wrapped collection container is used and the operator is
directed to provide a specimen to the collector as soon as he or she filled the void. The collector must
ensure that the specimen is of sufficient volume and at a suitable temperature range i.e from 32-38. The
collector must check the symbol of tampering such as appearance, strange color, and odor of the sample
specimen. If the collector doubts any tampering then he may demand a new specimen from an employee
or operator while considering direct observation. The collector distributes the sample before sending for
analyses into two containers, the first enclosing at least 15ml and the second enclosing at least 30ml of
urine. The two containers are then dated, sealed, and sent to the lab for examination.
Initial and Confirmation Test:
After reaching the lab, each specimen of urine was tested two times. Negative sample specimens are
eliminated from any further consideration using the initial immune chromatographic examination and to
eliminate the specimens that are suspected to be positive but need to be confirmed or tested further. The
confirmatory test uses liquid chromatography or gas chromatography in order to verify the presence of
metabolite in the specimen.
Conclusion
DeRouen, H., Five Things About Drug Testing For Owner-operators Most People Won't Tell
You. Screensoft. Available at: https://www.screensoft.co/blog/item/53-five-things-about-
drug-testing-for-owner-operators-most-people-wont-tell-you [Accessed April 1, 2021].
Ghebregiorgis, F. & Mehreteab, H.T., 2018. Financing for Commercialization of Research Work
and Implications for National and Regional Trade- Experiences from Eritrea. Journal of
Business Management and Economic Research, 2(9), pp.25–35.
OccuMedix, F., Sleep Apnea and Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators::... : Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Medicine. LWW. Available at:
https://journals.lww.com/joem/Citation/2006/09001/Sleep_Apnea_and_Commercial_Moto
r_Vehicle.2.aspx [Accessed April 1, 2021].

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Drug & Alcohol Testing for DOT Regulated Owner/Operators

Alcohol and Drug Testing for DOT Regulated Operators

49 CFR Part 382.603 - Training for directors.

When Operators are examined by Drug and Alcohol Testing?

5. Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up

Initial and Confirmation Test:

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