#randomtestingconsortium

Nothing beats the convenience of goMDnow's over 15,000 + collection sites in the US. You won't get very far without finding one of our drug and alcohol testing locations. Ordering alcohol and drug tests online is just as easy. In addition to guiding businesses through every necessary step to ensure they are prepared for all testing-related issues, we have revolutionized the drug testing industry by making testing more accessible than ever.

The many benefits of using goMDnow include:

• Access to more than 15,000 + collection points nationwide

• SAMHSA Certified Laboratory, Certified Urine Collector and Certified Breath Alcohol Technician

• Cutting edge web-based technology for project management, record keeping, random selection and test results reporting

• Ongoing advisory and administrative support

• Certified full-time MRO results report - via fax, email and/or web

• If auditing a company's drug and alcohol testing program, USDTC shall assist with all necessary audit requests. Copies of any correspondence from regulatory officials regarding the company’s drug and alcohol testing program should be forwarded to the USDTC as soon as it is received.

• DOT Clearinghouse advice and assistance

Consortium and random drug testing programs are available for both:

• DOT Employers

• DOT owner-operator

We are professionals in establishing and managing DOT compliant testing programs for any business in the transportation industry. If you are a DOT-regulated company and need a DOT-compliant drug and alcohol program, we can provide your business with complete testing and planning services.

We strictly adhere to DOT compliance standards in all our tests. Unlike other medical facilities that only offer drug testing, we are qualified to offer DOT compliant tests with all required components.

Employers regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) require a random drug testing program. If you are an owner-operator, you are required to participate in the Consortium Randomized Drug Testing Program.

Return to duty Process

What happens if your employee takes a DOT drug or alcohol test and the test comes back positive? Short answer: As an employer, you are required by law to remove the employee from any security-sensitive, DOT-covered activity and refer the employer to a local, DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). You do not have to pay for evaluation or treatment, but you cannot send your employee back to the jobsite until he or she has completed the DOT return-to-work process under the direction of SAP.

But what exactly does this return to work process mean?

How does the return to work process work?

The process always starts with an assessment. The employee will meet face-to-face with SAP, who will assess the nature and extent of the individual's drug or alcohol problem.

It may be helpful to point out here that SAP is a clinical professional who specializes in addiction diagnosis and treatment. Not only that, but they also have special recognition from the DOT - in addition, they maintain key professional qualifications and receive ongoing education on the latest addiction treatments. These are truly the leaders in addiction care.

During the evaluation period, SAP will recommend some treatment options or educational opportunities for the employee. Employees are then expected to receive these treatments; again, as an employer, you don't have to pay for them. You just need to make sure your employees understand these options.

Once the employee has completed treatment and/or education, he or she will meet again with SAP. SAP will then declare whether the employee is fit to return to work.

Key point: SAP will simply determine if an employee is eligible to return to duty. As an employer, it is your decision whether or not you want that employee to return to work.

The Timeline for Return to Duty

Both employees and employers want to know how long the process will take - unfortunately, there are no easy answers here. It really depends on the SAP and they may recommend different treatments to different people depending on the nature and extent of the substance use problem.

The driver must be removed from his safety-sensitive position immediately upon any drug or alcohol test positive. Note that a positive alcohol test is determined to be a 0.04+ BAC level, but any driver with an alcohol level below 0.04 should be immediately removed from their safety-sensitive functions for at least 24 hours before performing DOT safety-sensitive work functions.

If the MRO determines that the drug test is positive, or the BAC level determines that the alcohol test is positive, the employee must be referred to a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) as required by the DOT. This does not mean that employees must be maintained, employment depends on your drug/alcohol policy. Before an employee can return to a DOT safety-sensitive function, the employee must complete the activities outlined by the substance abuse professional and have a negative drug test on file as a result of the "return to work" test. In addition, employees are subject to additional random drug/alcohol testing as determined by SAP, known as "follow-up" testing (DOT mandates a minimum of 6 follow-up tests in the first 12 months after an employee's return to work). Subsequent testing may last up to 5 years, according to SAP. Employers are not required to pay for return to work or follow-up testing, as this is usually paid by employees.

Why do I or an employee seem to be getting tested all the time?

Drug Random Testing

The main requirements for the selection and notification of random test drivers are listed below.

1. Drivers should be selected using scientifically valid methods, such as random number tables or computer random number generators, that match the driver's social security number, payroll identification number, or another comparable identification number.

In the selection process used, each rider shall have an equal opportunity to be tested at each selection.

2. Employers should ensure that random inspections are not notified in advance and are distributed reasonably throughout the year.

Employers need to have a plan in place to ensure employees don't have time to know the test "has been completed for a year." For example, if an employer is required to take only two tests, and that number is completed by midsummer, the employer's plan must ensure that more tests can be taken by the end of the calendar year. Another option is for employers to join a coalition with a testing pool large enough that their drivers are always randomly tested.

3. The employer shall ensure that the selected driver goes to the testing point immediately after being notified of the selection.

Employers should notify and test drivers as soon as possible after drivers have been selected. This means that, when conducting driver selection, employers should require all drivers selected to submit the test at the first available time at a terminal or other suitable location.

Employers may not defer a driver's test until the next driver name selection. Although the FMCSA has permitted this practice in the past, the FMCSA believes that some employers may use this interpretation by manipulating the timing of such tests to conduct quasi-reasonable-suspicious testing of drivers, rather than random testing that is not based on individualization. Suspect. Additionally, employers may have been delaying testing to deliver goods or have drivers in question "clean up" before taking the test.

4. Employers can pool interstate and intrastate drivers for random testing.

Since this rule applies to all drivers with CDL, no separation is required. However, FMCSA will prohibit any employee not subject to any DOT agency testing rules from being included in the random selection pool.

Dot Drugs & Alcohol Consortium by goMDnow

goMDnow offers Dot Drug & Alcohol Consortium

RTD Process

Urine Test

Consortium Service