DOT or the Department of Transportation introduces the DOT drug tests in the United States which include a set of guidelines and standards for drug testing. These guidelines are regarded as benchmarks for conducting successful drug testing.

Before a business recruits anyone, they require screening the person for drug abuse. The DOT standards are known to guide the processes of these drug tests. You need to remember that the tests are a must for every business firm.

List of Prohibited drugs

There are certain drugs which are prohibited under DOT tests. For passing the DOT drug tests, the driver mustn’t use any sort of addictive, dangerous or schedule I drugs.

They should also refrain from using narcotics, amphetamines, or any sort of habit forming drugs. If the driver uses any kind of anti-seizure medicines for preventing seizures, he will fail these tests. Besides this, the use of methadone also results in disqualification in this test.

The procedure of DOT drug tests

In DOT drug tests, the employees are tested for alcohol and drugs. An authorized DOT agency collects the urine samples of employees after which it is sent to the laboratory. These agencies make use of special collection kits for the collection of urine samples. However, the kits need to be in strict compliance with the regulations of DOT.

The business firm should have a separate site for the collection of the urine samples. At times, the collection site might be placed outside the business premise. The owners of the independent collection site should adopt the prerequisite security measures and keep the required facilities, personnel, supervision, materials, and equipment for the collection of the urine samples.

The time required for DOT drug tests

Once the urine sample is collected, the DOT drug testing is a fair process. After you have entered the drug screening premise, you will be asked to remove the outer layers of clothing such as hats, jackets, sweatshirts.

After you have removed these clothing layers and empty the contents of your pocket, you have to do a 360 turn so that the collector can see the waistline of the pants. In addition to this, you will be asked to show the top of the boots or socks.

Next to this, you will be asked to wash your hands. The collector will be handing the cup to you now and you will be asked to fill it to a minimum volume line. Once you have filled the minimum volume, the collector will inspect if it contains any substitutions or adulterants.

The collector will divide the given sample into two different vials after which they are sealed. The re-testing of the second vial is done in case any drug substance is found in the first vial and the donor disagrees with the same. It is collected for re-testing of the sample.

You have to sign that the sample is yours and you have watched the collector, sealing the samples before you. As the samples have been packaged and sealed, a copy of the chain of custody will be sent to you as evidence that you have completed the test. The total process will be completed within five to seven minutes.

Who has to undergo DOT drug testing?

According to the Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, the DOT testing is mandatory for employees, who are working in the trucking, aviation, mass transit, railroads, pipelines as well as other transportation industries. Department of Transportation has published a set of protocols for the conduction of DOT tests. These sets of rules and regulations cover the sensitive transportation employees, transportation employees, as well as service agents.

The rules and regulations, as set by the Department of Transportation make sure that all the tests have been administered and conducted properly. There is a wide array of reasons why DOT drug testing is a must in certain sectors.

Conducting these tests is vital to ensure the safety and security of people, and other drivers on roads and high ways. Thus, it reduces the risks of accidents to a minimal. In addition to this, it also maintains the reputation of the employer and the transportation business.

The DOT tests are conducted primarily during pre-employment, after accidents. In addition to this, a driver may be asked to appear for the tests randomly. Besides this, they have to undergo these tests while returning to duty after any tests. If there is any reasonable suspicion, these tests are conducted.

Importance of DOT drug testing in the transportation sector

DOT or the Department of Transportation introduces the DOT drug tests in the United States which include a set of guidelines and standards for drug testing. These guidelines are regarded as benchmarks for conducting successful drug testing.

Before a business recruits anyone, they require screening the person for drug abuse. The DOT standards are known to guide the processes of these drug tests. You need to remember that the tests are a must for every business firm.

List of Prohibited drugs

There are certain drugs which are prohibited under DOT tests. For passing the DOT drug tests, the driver mustn’t use any sort of addictive, dangerous or schedule I drugs.

They should also refrain from using narcotics, amphetamines, or any sort of habit forming drugs. If the driver uses any kind of anti-seizure medicines for preventing seizures, he will fail these tests. Besides this, the use of methadone also results in disqualification in this test.

The procedure of DOT drug tests

In DOT drug tests, the employees are tested for alcohol and drugs. An authorized DOT agency collects the urine samples of employees after which it is sent to the laboratory. These agencies make use of special collection kits for the collection of urine samples. However, the kits need to be in strict compliance with the regulations of DOT.

The business firm should have a separate site for the collection of the urine samples. At times, the collection site might be placed outside the business premise. The owners of the independent collection site should adopt the prerequisite security measures and keep the required facilities, personnel, supervision, materials, and equipment for the collection of the urine samples.

The time required for DOT drug tests

Once the urine sample is collected, the DOT drug testing is a fair process. After you have entered the drug screening premise, you will be asked to remove the outer layers of clothing such as hats, jackets, sweatshirts.

After you have removed these clothing layers and empty the contents of your pocket, you have to do a 360 turn so that the collector can see the waistline of the pants. In addition to this, you will be asked to show the top of the boots or socks.

Next to this, you will be asked to wash your hands. The collector will be handing the cup to you now and you will be asked to fill it to a minimum volume line. Once you have filled the minimum volume, the collector will inspect if it contains any substitutions or adulterants.

The collector will divide the given sample into two different vials after which they are sealed. The re-testing of the second vial is done in case any drug substance is found in the first vial and the donor disagrees with the same. It is collected for re-testing of the sample.

You have to sign that the sample is yours and you have watched the collector, sealing the samples before you. As the samples have been packaged and sealed, a copy of the chain of custody will be sent to you as evidence that you have completed the test. The total process will be completed within five to seven minutes.

Who has to undergo DOT drug testing?

According to the Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, the DOT testing is mandatory for employees, who are working in the trucking, aviation, mass transit, railroads, pipelines as well as other transportation industries. Department of Transportation has published a set of protocols for the conduction of DOT tests. These sets of rules and regulations cover the sensitive transportation employees, transportation employees, as well as service agents.

The rules and regulations, as set by the Department of Transportation make sure that all the tests have been administered and conducted properly. There is a wide array of reasons why DOT drug testing is a must in certain sectors.

Conducting these tests is vital to ensure the safety and security of people, and other drivers on roads and high ways. Thus, it reduces the risks of accidents to a minimal. In addition to this, it also maintains the reputation of the employer and the transportation business.

The DOT tests are conducted primarily during pre-employment, after accidents. In addition to this, a driver may be asked to appear for the tests randomly. Besides this, they have to undergo these tests while returning to duty after any tests. If there is any reasonable suspicion, these tests are conducted.