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 Is a service agent that provides or coordinates one or more drug and/or alcohol testing services to DOT-regulated employers. C/TPAs typically provide or coordinate the provision of a number of such services and perform administrative tasks concerning the operation of the employers' drug and alcohol testing programs. This term includes, but is not limited to, groups of employers who join together to administer, as a single entity, the DOT drug and alcohol testing programs of its members (e.g., having a combined random testing pool). 

 An individual identified by the employer as able to receive communications and test results from service agents and who is authorized to take immediate actions to remove employees from safety-sensitive duties and to make required decisions in the testing and evaluation processes. The individual must be an employee of the company. Service agents cannot serve as DERs. 

It's important to know if you employ DOT employees to ensure compliance wth the Federal Government. DOT (Department of Transportation) employees are individules that work in DOT requlated fields performing safety sensitive functions. Examples are individules working as commericial drivers, pilots, pipeline workers, US Coast Guard workers, transit workers and railroad workers.  

Pre-employment drug testing is a standard clinical procedure that entails the collection and analysis of hair, saliva (oral), or urine to determine drug and/or alcohol use. Employers generally have exclusive authority to conduct pre-employment drug screens that largely conform to state law regulations. DOT pre-employment tests are required. The employer must have a negative drug test result before the employee works in a safety sensitive function. 

 A method of testing for drug use by employees through a process of random selection. These tests are conducted without prior notice to the employee and a systematic selection process is used to assure that each employee has an equal chance of being chosen for testing. Because there is no prior notice as to when this testing will occur, or who will be selected, random drug testing serves both to detect, and deter, drug use.  DOT requires employees in safety sensitive functions to be in a random pool. 

 Post-accident, sometimes referred to as “post-incident,” drug testing is performed after an employee has been involved in a workplace accident. Testing is used to determine whether drugs were a factor in the incident. Employers who implement post-accident drug testing must establish objective criteria for how and when testing will occur.  DOT employees in safety sensitive functions are required by law to perform post- accident tests. Note: DOT post-accident testing is only performed if the accident meets the criteria defined by DOT regulations. 

  Drug and/or alcohol testing based on a belief that an employee is using or has used drugs and/or alcohol in violation of the companies policy or DOT regulations, on the basis of specific, contemporaneous, particularly observations concerning physical behavior or performance indicators of probable drug use, drawn from those facts in light of experience.   DOT requires supervisors to complete a reasonable supicion supervisor course. 

  Return-to-duty drug testing is for employees who have previously tested positive for illicit substances or violated a company’s drug and alcohol policy. For both the general U.S. workforce and the federally mandated, safety sensitive workforce. DOT return to duty tests are performed under direct observation by a person of the same gender.  

    Follow-up testing is a series of unannounced drug tests that must return negative in order for an employee to keep his or her job. Follow-up testing usually runs, at a minimum, over the course of the first year an employee is back on the job, and may continue for up to five years.    DOT follow-up tests are performed under direct observation by a person of the same gender.    

    Urine is the most common type of testing. A urine lab test is one that is collected by a drug testing facility who sends the sample to a lab. Most drug testing facilities require positive drug tests results to be forwarded to a Medical Review Officer (MRO), who contacts the employee to determine if the drug was used legally.  All DOT tests are reviewed by a medical review officer.

Hair follicle testing is typically performed by companies that would like a longer detection window for drugs. A typical hair follicle test can detect drug use for approximately 3 months.  A hair follicle  lab test is one that is collected by a drug testing facility who sends the sample to a lab. 

 A mouth swab drug test is a screening test used to detect substance use. It’s also referred to as a saliva drug test or oral fluids drug test. Saliva tests are being used more often as an alternative to urine drug tests.   A saliva lab test is one that is collected by a drug testing facility who sends the sample to a lab.