PYDT DOT Drug Testing FAQs

What Type of Testing do they do?

Urine for Illegal Drugs, 5 Panel.

 

The Breathalyzer for Alcohol Test.

What Drugs are Tested For?

Drug and alcohol compliancy programs for the Department of Transportation (D.O.T), DOT Supervisor Training, and Workers’ Drug Education Programs for DOT regulated companies. Department of Transportation (DOT) and The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations call for Pre-employment testing, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to duty testing. A driver must have a negative drug test result before they can be DOT qualified. The DOT test panel includes testing for the following drugs.

 

• AMPHETAMINE
• Amphetamine
• Methamphetamine
• MARIJUANA
• Delta-9-Carboxy THC (Marijuana)
• COCAINE
• Benzoylecgonine
• OPIATES
• Morphine
• Codeine
• PHENCYCLIDINE
• PCP

D.O.T - Cut Off Levels

a DOT test is the abbreviation for a Department of Transportation. This means the testing guidelines have been regulated by the DOT, and if the guidelines are not followed the results are considered invalid. Not all tests are DOT regulated, but most are. To make the testing process easier companies follow the DOT guidelines to minimize mistakes.

 

The first test for the DOT is a five panel EMIT. The cut off for marijuana on the screen is 50 ng/ml, which is a composite of all 31 metabolite concentrations. If the sample is below this level the test is over as a passing status. If the sample is over 50 ng/ml the sample is sent on to a GC/MS for confirmation. The cutoff for the confirmation is lower at 15 ng/ml because the machine only identifies one of the 31 metabolites which is the 11-nor-D-9-tetrahyrocanibinolic acid. To pass, the one metabolite must be below the 15-ng/ml cutoff. Urine LuckTM works best on DOT tests which utilize a GC/. The chart below summarizes five drugs of abuse found on the screen.

 

Drug # of Metabolites EMIT cut off GC/MS cut off
Marijuana 31 50 ng/ml 15 ng/ml
Cocaine 4 300 ng/ml 150 ng/ml
Opiates 3 2000 ng/ml 2000 ng/ml
Phencyclidine 1 25 ng/ml 25ng/ml
Amphetamines 5 1000 ng/ml 500 ng/ml

 

DOT tests are the hardest test to pass if the donor does not use a detoxifying product. However, if a detoxifying product is used, the DOT is the easiest test pass. Each type of detoxifying product works via a unique mechanism on drug tests. Refer to the product sections of this report for the mechanism information and explanation.

As an employee or employer, how do I know if I am subject to DOT testing?

Generally, DOT regulations cover safety-sensitive transportation employers and employees. Each DOT agency (e.g. FRA, FMCSA, FTA, FAA, and PHMSA) and the USCG have specific drug and alcohol testing regulations that outline who is subject to their testing regulations.

How does 49 CFR Part 40 differ from the DOT Agency specific regulations?

49 CFR Part 40 (commonly referred to as “Part 40”) states:
• how drug and alcohol testing is conducted,
• who is authorized to participate in the drug and alcohol testing program, and
• what employees must do before they may return-to-duty following a drug and/or alcohol violation.

The DOT Agency and the USCG specific regulations state:

• the agency’s prohibitions on drug and alcohol use,
• who is subject to the regulations,
• what testing is authorized,
• when testing is authorized, and
• the consequences of non-compliance.
The DOT Agencies and the USCG incorporate Part 40 into their regulations and enforce compliance of all their respective regulations.

Will I lose my job if I test positive or refuse a test?

The DOT regulations do not address hiring, termination, or other employment actions. These decisions are solely the employer’s, which may be based on company policy and/or any collective bargaining agreements.

What happens to me when I test positive or refuse to test (i.e. adulterate, or substitute my urine specimen, or decline to be tested)?

When you test positive or refuse a test, you are not permitted to perform safety-sensitive duties until you have seen a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and successfully completed the return-to-duty process, which includes a Federal return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test. Working in a safety-sensitive position before successfully completing the return-to-duty process is a violation of the regulations

Who pays for the DOT drug or alcohol test or SAP recommended treatment/education, the employer or employee?

The Department’s regulations are silent on who is responsible for paying for the testing or SAP recommended treatment/education. Payment may be based an understanding between the employer and employee, including applicants for safety-sensitive positions.
An employer may not, however, refrain from sending a “split specimen” for testing because the employee does not pay for the test in advance

Is there a list of prohibited drugs for being medically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV)?

Section 391.41(b)(12) states: A person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person does not use a controlled substance identified in 21 CFR 1308.11, Schedule I, an amphetamine, a narcotic, or any other habit-forming drug.

 

Exception: A driver may use such a substance or drug, if the substance or drug is prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner who is familiar with the driver’s medical history and assigned duties; and has advised the driver that the prescribed substance or drug will not adversely affect the driver’s ability to safely operate a CMV. This exception does not apply to methadone.

 

Medical Examiners are required to give careful consideration to the effects of medications on a driver’s ability to operate a CMV safely before rendering the driver qualified.

Minimum Testing Rates

The percentage of safety-sensitive transportation employees randomly drug-tested every year varies depending on the DOT agency. In 2010, minimum random drug testing rates are: Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration and Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 25 percent of employees; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and U.S. Coast Guard, 50 percent.

Testing Process

The Federal Regulations Code specifies rules for collecting drug test specimens from DOT employees. Employees selected for random drug testing must submit urine specimens at a specified collection site. Tests are conducted by a certified collector. The test administrator must begin the collection process soon after the employee enters the collection site.

 

Before submitting a urine specimen, the employee must present employer-issued photo identification, remove all outer clothing and empty his pockets so that the collector can verify that the employee is not concealing any items or substances that could be used to tamper with the specimen.

Rules on Test Failure

If a transportation employee fails a random drug test (either by refusing to test, testing positive or adulterating a specimen), the worker is banned from safety-sensitive duties until she has seen a substance abuse professional and completed a “return to duty” process, which includes another drug test. DOT regulations do not address whether the employee who fails a random drug test will be terminated or subject to any other employer actions; these decisions are left to the employer’s discretion.

2010 DOT Random Testing Rates Notice

Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance

 

The following chart outlines the annual minimum drug and alcohol random testing rates established within DOT Agencies and the USCG for 2010:

 

 

NOTE: Employers (and C/TPAs) subject to more than one DOT Agency drug and alcohol testing rule may continue to combine covered employees into a single random selection pool. However, companies (and C/TPAs) doing so must test at or above the highest minimum annual random testing rates established by the DOT Agencies under whose jurisdiction they fall. For example, an employer having both FMCSA- and FRA-covered employees in one pool must test, as a minimum rate, 50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol. PHMSA- and USCG-regulated employees should not to be placed in random alcohol testing pools. Contact the appropriate DOT Agency for additional clarification.
Please note that USCG covered employees may be combined with DOT covered employees in drug testing pools testing at 50% even though the USCG is part of the Department of Homeland Security.