Drug & Alcohol Management:
The Basics of a DOT Compliant Program

We will walk through a brief overview of the basic components of a Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant drug & alcohol program, as mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). By ensuring these four components are in place, your company will be in great shape when it comes to having a program that meets the DOT requirements.

Drug & Alcohol Company Policy

Companies must adopt a drug & alcohol policy that all drivers must sign and follow. Each policy must include certain criterion. Additional provisions may be added to a company’s drug & alcohol policy; however, these provisions must state that they are under the company’s authority and not mandated by the DOT.

Testing Requirements

There are six circumstances in which a driver must submit to a drug and/or alcohol test as required by the DOT:

• Pre-Employment
• Random
• Post-Accident
• Reasonable Suspicion
• Return-to-Duty (after completion of a substance abuse program)
• Follow-Up (minimum of six, after a Return-to-Duty test)

Reasonable Suspicion Training

All supervisors of drivers must undergo Reasonable Suspicion Training, so as to recognize and detect signs of drug and alcohol abuse. The training, a minimum of one hour on drug use and another hour on alcohol use, will cover the effects, behaviors, and indicators of substance use. Supervisors will also learn what documentation is required before administering a Reasonable Suspicion test.

Record Keeping

Maintaining records is a vital part of staying in compliance with the DOT. Due to the nature of drug & alcohol testing, all records must be kept in a confidential and secure location with limited access. The DOT requires different types of records, to be kept for varying periods of time. Some examples include records related to: collection process, test results, other violations of Part 382 of the FMCSRs, evaluations, education and training, and administrative records.

Establishing and maintaining a DOT compliant program saves headaches down the line. CleanFleet specializes in keeping up the changing DOT regulations, and can help you keep up on all the details necessary.