what happens to truck driver that fails a drug test

What Happens if You Neglect a DOT Drug Examination

04/16/2021 08:33

In the trucking industry, a failed Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test is no little thing. Commercial drivers perform many safety-sensitive duties, and even the smallest of errors caused by driving under the influence of drugs or booze can atomic number 82 to serious accidents and consequences. For this reason, drivers are held to a higher standard in terms of drug and alcohol utilize. It'south clear why DOT drug tests are required and taken so seriously, but many drivers are left wondering what happens if you lot fail a DOT drug examination. Read on to learn more than about DOT drug testing and the results of a failed drug test.

What Is a DOT Drug Test?

DOT drug tests are drug tests required by the DOT for all Commercial Driver'due south License (CDL) drivers and drivers who perform safety-sensitive functions. Drug tests are usually given in combination with alcohol tests and test for the post-obit drugs:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Opiates (opium and codeine derivatives)
• Amphetamines and methamphetamines
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

To laissez passer a drug and booze test and continue to perform safe-sensitive functions, drivers must non accept any of these drugs in their samples and must have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of below 0.04. There are 6 types of DOT drug tests for which drivers should be prepared:

• Pre-employment – required prior to the hiring of a driver for a safety-sensitive job.
• Reasonable Suspicion – performed when a driver is suspected to accept used drugs or booze illicitly.
• Post-accident – required afterwards a driver has been involved in an accident having a sure gear up of DOT criteria.
• Random – tests that occur for randomly selected drivers throughout the year.
• Return-to-duty – required when a driver has violated drug and booze rules and is returning to their duties.
• Follow-up – required, unannounced tests for drivers who accept already passed a return-to-duty test and resumed their duties.

Failing whatever of these types of drug tests volition outcome in disciplinary action for the driver.

Ways You Can Fail a Drug Test

At present that you accept a better understanding of DOT drug testing, allow's talk about the means in which you lot tin can fail a DOT drug test. All in all, there are two ways you can fail a drug test: either your sample tests positive for a restricted drug, or you turn down the drug test. There are a few specific exceptions to failure by refusal to test; for example, if yous refuse a pre-employment drug test, you lot may not receive consequences, but the employer volition not exist able to hire you for any condom-sensitive tasks. Failing a drug test by testing positive or refusing to examination will result in your immediate disqualification from performing any condom-sensitive procedures, including driving a commercial vehicle.

What If It Was a Imitation Positive?

If you suspect that your positive drug test result was a mistake, don't panic. By and large, the samples used in drug testing are divided into 2 for occasions such as these. After consulting with your Medical Review Officer (MRO), the dr. responsible for reviewing the drug exam results, you may request a retest inside 72 hours of receiving the positive result. When you do then, the second, backup sample will be tested.

Consequences of Failing a Drug Test

If your drug exam comes back positive, you lot'll be subject to the consequences and disciplinary activeness. These include firsthand removal from safety-sensitive duties, the required completion of the render-to-duty process, and the improver of your violation to your record.

Removal From Safety-Sensitive Duties

As soon as a driver tests positive in whatsoever DOT drug or alcohol exam, they must exist removed from whatsoever safety-sensitive functions of their position. Oft, drivers are concerned that a failed drug test volition hateful a suspended or revoked CDL license—this is not the example, but at the very least, drivers who have failed a drug test will be suspended from many of their duties. The severity of these consequences may vary based on the policies of a driver's employer—certain employers or companies have a no-tolerance policy for drug and alcohol violations and may fire a driver for a violation, but not every commuter with a violation is necessarily fired.

Commuter Must Complete Render-To-Duty Programme

Regardless of an employer's specific disciplinary activeness, a driver with a positive drug test must complete the DOT return-to-duty program earlier they are allowed to perform safety-specific functions once more. This includes the completion of whatever prescribed education or treatment. The steps of the return-to-duty plan are as follows.

• Subsequently a commuter is removed from condom-sensitive functions, their employer will refer them to a nearby Substance Abuse Professional person (SAP).
• The SAP will evaluate the driver, recommending a grade of education or handling for their substance abuse and violation.
• The driver must consummate the teaching or handling recommended by the SAP before being eligible to return to duty. Drivers are responsible for funding any prescribed instruction and handling themselves. After completing handling, the driver volition be evaluated by the SAP.
• Following evaluation, the driver must consummate a negative return-to-duty drug test to qualify to take up their prophylactic-sensitive duties one time once again. This examination must be directly observed.
• Once the driver has successfully returned to duty, they are required to complete several follow-up tests. These tests are unannounced and directly observed, and drivers must complete a minimum of six of these tests inside a 12-calendar month period. Failure of any of these tests volition result in the need to repeat the return-to-duty process.

Failed Drug Examination Goes on Your Record

Finally, it's of import to note that whatsoever and all failed drug tests, including refusals to test, will exist added to your record in the FMCSA Clearinghouse's database. These failed drug and booze tests volition stay on tape until your return-to-duty program has been completed and 5 years take passed since the violation. Employers are required to check the Clearinghouse database earlier hiring a new employee and regularly during the class of their employment. Is it already articulate for you what happens if you fail CDL drug test?

The consequences of a drug or booze violation are serious and not to be taken lightly. Knowing what happens if yous neglect a DOT drug test will give you added incentive to avoid such consequences in your own driving career. Ane style to make sure yous stay compliant with DOT drug and booze testing standards is by hiring the services of consortium third-party administrators to help you manage to test. Labworks United states volition aid you to stay DOT compliant and safe—and trust us, staying compliant as a truck driver or employer will just assist yous on your career path.

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Source: https://www.labworksusa.com/what-happens-if-you-fail-a-dot-drug-test

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