DOT: Department of Transportation

If you or your workers operate certain commercial vehicles that cross into the U.S. (such as buses, trucks, or a transporter of hazardous materials), you are likely regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol regulations which are mandatory for specific safety-sensitive positions. Certain railway workers, pipeline workers, aviation workers, and marine industry workers may also fall into this category.

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Since 1996, DriverCheck has helped commercial carriers stay compliant with DOT and non-DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements. Our experts stay on top of regulatory changes and provide the guidance you need to keep your workforce safe and your operations running smoothly.

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DOT-regulated employers must implement a comprehensive drug and alcohol testing program to comply with U.S. federal regulations. This includes conducting tests for specific reasons such as pre-employment, random testing, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing.

Employers are also required to ensure that supervisors complete DOT-mandated supervisory training to identify signs of substance use or alcohol use, and they must utilize the DOT Clearinghouse to report and review drug and alcohol program violations. Explore how our services can support your compliance needs:

Also known as pre-placement or pre-access, pre-employment drug and alcohol tests are performed on a potential employee after the offer of employment is conditionally accepted. This testing is mandated by the DOT.
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Random drug and alcohol testing is an effective way to deter substance misuse in safety-sensitive workplaces by helping to reduce risks. A random drug and alcohol testing program is critical in workplaces where impairment due to substance abuse could have severe consequences. DOT regulated companies must implement a random testing program.
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Post-accident (also known as post-incident) testing is drug and alcohol testing that occurs after an accident (or a close-call) at work. This occurs when an accident cannot be explained via mechanical failure, or other work-related environmental factors. DriverCheck can design a post-incident drug and alcohol testing program that works for your unique needs. DOT regulated companies must implement a post-accident testing program.
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Reasonable Suspicion Testing is a workplace drug and alcohol testing method initiated when a trained supervisor observes specific, articulable signs that an employee may be under the influence. The Employer's (supervisor) determination that reasonable suspicion exists to require the driver to undergo a controlled substances test must be based on specific, contemporaneous, articulable observations concerning the appearance, behavior, speech or body odors of the driver. The observations may include indications of the chronic and withdrawal effects of controlled substances.
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Supervisor Training (also known as Reasonable Cause Training or Reasonable Suspicion Training) is a 2-hour in-person seminar or interactive online learning experience for supervisors in safety-sensitive industries who need to understand how to identify the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol abuse. Drug and Alcohol Supervisor Training is mandatory for all DOT-regulated employers.
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The return-to-duty process (sometimes referred to as return-to-work), answers the question “what next?" after a positive drug test or an employee has disclosed that they have a substance use disorder. The return-to-duty process is mandatory for DOT regulated companies.
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Following treatment and the Return-To-Duty test, a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) must establish a written follow-up testing plan, which is done on a case-by-case basis. The plan can be tailored to company requirements; however, employers are required to, at minimum, subject the employee to 6 unannounced follow-up tests in the first 12 months of the employee's return to safety-sensitive work.
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The Clearinghouse is a secure online database run by the U.S. federal government that gives our DOT clients, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), U.S. State Driver Licensing Agencies, and U.S. State law enforcement personnel real-time access to important information about commercial driver’s drug and alcohol program violations. DriverCheck can manage your Clearinghouse program from end to end.
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DOT Oral Fluid Drug Testing

As of June 1, 2023, the DOT authorized employers to use oral fluid drug testing as an alternative testing methodology to urine drug testing. However, this testing method cannot be put into practice until the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services certifies at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing, which has not yet been done. Therefore, DOT-regulated employers cannot use oral fluid testing at this time.

DOT Alcohol Cut Off Levels

For DOT-regulated employers, alcohol testing is conducted using procedures outlined in 49 CFR Part 40. Alcohol screening tests may be performed using saliva alcohol screening devices or evidential breath testing devices (EBTs), both of which must be approved by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Alcohol screen tests can be conducted using evidential breath measurement devices or Screening Devices to Measure Alcohol in Bodily Fluids (saliva).

A driver who is found to have an alcohol concentration confirmed at a level of 0.02 or greater but less than 0.04 shall not perform DOT safety-sensitive functions, including driving a commercial motor vehicle, nor shall an employer permit the driver to perform or continue to perform safety-sensitive functions, until the start of the driver's next regularly scheduled duty period, but not less than 24 hours following administration of the test.

If the confirmatory level is 0.04 or above, this is a volitation of U.S. DOT regulations, which results in the removal of the employee from DOT safety sensitive positions, until such time they complete the return-to-duty process.

Related Services:

Pre-Employment

Random Testing

Post-Accident (or Post-Incident)

Supervisor Training

Return-to-Duty

DOT Clearinghouse

Articles of Interest:

DOT Authorizes Employers to use Oral Fluid Drug Testing

Drug and Alcohol Testing FAQs

Related Links:

FMCSA DOT Clearinghouse