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DOT/Non-DOT Drug Testing

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 DOT/Non-DOT Drug Testing Employers regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT), offer membership in the Consortium for DOT Consortium Drug & Alcohol Testing . Membership in the consortium helps minimize workplace conflict as employers are excluded from the selection process. Administrative fees are low and we can arrange for multi-site clinic participation for a small additional fee. Member employers provide lists of employees subject to regulations. Throughout the calendar year, the entire consortium is regularly "pulled". (On average, coalition membership totals more than 1,000 employees.) The selection process is computer-based and completely random. Every time they "pull" drugs or alcohol, all employees of consortium member companies have an equal chance of being selected. In other words, once a person is selected, that person's name is returned to the pool. The person has the same chance of being selected during the next "pull...

Why is Consortium Enrollment Important?

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  Consortium Enrollment Important For new owner-operators, within 12 months of starting operations, you will undergo a DOT FMCSA security audit, commonly known as the New Entrant Exam. Audits and compliance reviews include verification of your  FMCSA Drug Testing Consortium   program. New owner-operators will automatically fail security audits related to the following violations: Owner-operator not participating in random drug and alcohol testing consortium program No alcohol and/or drug testing program No random alcohol and drug testing program Use a driver who refuses to take the required alcohol or drug test Using a driver, the company knows the blood alcohol level is 0.04 or higher Use drivers who fail to complete required follow-up procedures after testing positive for drugs For owner-operators, two important steps must be taken to comply with DOT FMCSA regulations on drug and alcohol testing : Must have completed a negative pre-employment drug tes...

The Advantages of Joining the Random Testing Consortium

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  Random Testing Consortium The Drug Testing Consortium is a random drug testing program for many employers. Consortiums are usually offered to employers regulated by the Department of Transportation. Applying them to the general workplace also has its advantages. FYI, the consortium is the plural form of consortium. Managing drug testing procedures can be complex and require specialized personnel. This gets even more difficult if you're managing hundreds of employees and applicants. This is overwhelming for any business. Thanks to the Drug Testing Alliance, it doesn't have to be. We take simplifying employment screening very seriously. The Drug Testing Consortium is a great way. That's why we recommend SMEs join the Drug Testing Alliance. It Lowers Your Costs Joining a drug testing alliance can reduce your direct costs. How does this work? Well, most vendors have volume-tiered pricing models. Therefore, the more tests you perform, the lower the unit cost. Small ...

Why Drug and Alcohol Testing Matters?

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 Drug and Alcohol Testing The goMDnow for a Drug-Free Workplace reports that more than 74 percent of illegal drug users are employed. These intoxicated workers are responsible for about 40% of industrial deaths in the United States. Among other factors, this highlights the importance of drug and alcohol testing -- especially in the workplace. Why is drug testing important? DOT Drug testing programs are intended to detect illegal drugs, certain prescription drugs, and alcohol. Tests can: • Helping employees admit or admit to substance abuse problems • Identifying signs and symptoms of substance abuse and addiction to provide early intervention and help prevent accidents • Protect the company's employees, safety and finances • Protect others from substance use and abuse • Support patients through recovery by helping them take responsibility to prevent relapse Drug testing helps protect the health of employees battling substance abuse. Testing also helps deter peopl...

A Time-Saving Solution for FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Program Management.

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 FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Program Management. Trust our system, support and FMCSA Drug and Alcohol program management experience to ensure compliance. goMDnow provides industry-leading services: Nationally recognized MRO with rapid results reporting Experience with over 2 million DOT tests per year Government Accredited Laboratory Ensures Accuracy and Compliance Policy Development and Review Advanced Systems and Services Online and in-person training for supervisors, employees and DERs Largest clinic network and simplified billing Mock Audit and FMCSA Training Program Pre-employment test Random Testing Consortium Drugs and Alcohol Compliant with Parts 40 and 382 Advanced Systems and Services Take goMDnow as an example to learn about a system that simplifies DOT project management and saves time. Upload random pool updates via our secure portal Random testing for automatic matching and verification Monthly random status and compliance reports Inno...

What Does Physical Exam Mean?

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Physical Exam: Physical examinations may be normal or accurate for specific challenges. Your most important care physician conducts a full physical examination at least once a year; this may become more regular if accurate medical issues are progressively managed. While random drug testing is official, it is only allowed if workers are in safety-sensitive positions, but only if worker regulation is insignificant or non-existent, in detailed workplaces and where the employer is at risk to justify fulfilling its control Obligations to test productive devotees. Documentation to comply with requirements to provide academic materials to drivers, such as driver-signed receipts for elements How will your organization classify stringent federal drug and alcohol testing necessities? You don't have to - we'll handle everything to meet your needs. You won't waste time tracking inspection results, hunting for select sites, or scrambling to meet expected test percentages at the...

Consortium Versus Clearinghouse:

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DOT auditors tell us that one of the most common violations they see now is CDL drivers not participating in a drug and alcohol testing program (or an owner-operator working with a consortium), or companies not registering or using stored DOT drugs and alcohol The CDL Clearinghouse for Violations. This became apparent when new carriers conducted new entrant audits within the first 6-12 months of operations, and auditors found these errors. The purpose of this article is to help drivers and carriers understand the difference between the Drug and Alcohol Alliance and the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, understand their requirements, and find out what, if any, you need to use. What is the DOT Consortium? Let's start with the basics. The DOT Alliance is a must-have DOT drug and alcohol testing program for any employee operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) that requires a CDL in intrastate or interstate commerce. "Qualified employees" include: Drive a ...

Drug & Alcohol Consortium

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Drug & Alcohol Consortium goMDnow provides complete drug and alcohol testing program management. Our consortium members get help with regulatory compliance, managing the random selection, reducing delays in the testing process, quality assurance, audit preparation, document retention and preparation, and consolidated billing. The goMDnow Consortium can support customized drug and alcohol screening programs, including any and all testing: pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return to work, and follow-up testing. We can also help develop new testing policies and programs, customized to your needs. The breadth of the program is up to you. The currently mandated random testing rates for each driver pool are: Drugs: 25%, Alcohol: 10%. Test rates are systematically reviewed and may be changed by the DOT. Become a goMDnow Alliance member today! FMCSA Regulations: Required Drug Testing Commercial driver license holders and their employers who operate commercial...

How do I pass a urine drug test?

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 Urine Drug Test All information is about urine testing for THC. Other types of drug tests have different procedures and take into account additional information. For the average marijuana user, there's nothing scarier to say than "we need you to take a urine drug test." This seemingly innocuous statement is enough to get the most rational person online trying to figure out how to pass a urine test. While recreational and medicinal marijuana is increasingly legal across the country, it remains standard practice for employers to require THC urine drug testing as a condition of employment or for employees to undergo random drug testing. While there is a wealth of information online explaining how to pass a marijuana drug test, it can be difficult to determine which information is accurate and which is actually an unreliable drug test myth. That's why we've compiled this guide on how to pass the weed drug test in urine. Below, we break down how long THC will re...

The 4 Steps of the Return to Duty Process

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Return toDuty Process RTD Step 1: Obtain a Substance Abuse Specialist (SAP) Evaluation Your employer must provide a free list of DOT certified SAPs. The list can be compiled by your employer, or from a consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA) or other service agent. The list must contain the name, address, and phone number of an approved local SAP. You are also free to choose your own based on your research. SAP will conduct a face-to-face substance abuse assessment. The assessment must provide: A comprehensive and clinical assessment of your drug or alcohol related problems. Treatment and/or educational programs and referrals that must be completed prior to returning to any commercial driving and safety-sensitive duties. A written report directly to your Designated Employer Representative (DER) stating your post-assessment education/treatment plan recommendations. RTD Step 2: Completion of the SAP-assigned therapeutic and/or educational program If you want to get b...

What is a consortium?

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 Consortium: A consortium is a partnership of two or more organizations to establish their own official randomized drug testing programmed. To see if your organization is eligible, please contact our office. DOT Random Drug Testing Consortium: Our DOT Consortium offers random DOT drug and alcohol testing structures. The consortium acts as a "Third Party Administrator (TPA)" for members. Read on for more details about our DOT drug testing alliance services, or call us for information on joining the alliance. Example of a Drug Testing Consortium: A trucking company with only two or three drivers has a hard time implementing a successful random drug testing program. Instead, they can join a consortium where their drivers' names are merged with the names of other drivers from other companies. The random name generator then selects a driver from this pool. This more completely randomized their drug testing program. goMDnow to establish your commercial drug testing ...

What is the Return to Duty process?

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Return to Duty process The process varies by company and industry specifics, but here are the specific steps to take after a DOT-required positive test: Immediately relieve employees of safety-sensitive functions (i.e., driving) – employees must be notified to stop driving as soon as it is safe to do so, even on roads in another state. Initial evaluation by a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) - The SAP will conduct an in-person interview to assess the employee's specific situation and history to determine the treatment regimen or program that the employee must complete. Education and Treatment Plan - SAP will develop a treatment plan for the employee during the initial interview. Follow-up evaluation by SAP - Once the employee has completed their assigned program, they must meet with their assigned SAP, and they will then determine if the employee can take the RTD test and return to duty again. Follow-up Test Schedule - The Designated Employer Representat...

5 Steps to Return to Duty Following a Dot Testing Violation

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  Return to Duty Process: 1. Immediate response to DOT violations When a driver engages in illegal drug or alcohol behavior, they must be immediately removed from performing all safety-sensitive functions. If in dispatch, the driver must be informed of the test results and instructed to stop. The notification usually involves arranging for the driver to go home and continue running with a different driver. Employers must provide drivers with a list of Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) who have the appropriate certification and DOT training to perform driver assessments. The list must be provided free of charge and provided to the driver (or driver applicant) regardless of whether the carrier retains the driver. 2. Education and/or Therapy Referrals by SAP for education and/or treatment programs are based on the driver's clinical assessment during the face-to-face meeting. SAP should be aware of available programs and consultants. SAP may take into account the driver...

What is FMCSA? What is the FMCSA Drug Testing Consortium?

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 What is FMCSA? FMCSA is a sub-department of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that develops and enforces safety regulations for the trucking industry. FMCSA aims to make roads safer by reducing the number of truck and bus accidents and injuries. One of the FMCSA's responsibilities together with the DOT is to administer drug and alcohol testing standards. DOT and FMCSA require all CDL (Commercial Driver License) drivers to undergo pre-employment, random and other drug testing. These rules affect CDL drivers and their employers. What is the FMCSA Drug Testing Consortium? The FMCSA Drug Testing Consortium is a third-party alliance or administrator that administers DOT drug and alcohol testing required by employers. The FMCSA Drug Testing Alliance is responsible for understanding all DOT and FMCSA drug and alcohol testing rules and regulations and ensuring that employers comply with them. MCSA Clearinghouse Compliance Management During the registration process to be...

What is a urinalysis?

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  Urinalysis: A urinalysis is a series of tests on your urine or pee. Doctors use it to check for signs of common conditions or diseases. Its other names are urine test , urinalysis and UA. Why performs a urinalysis? You may have a urinalysis as part of a routine check-up of your overall health, such as during your annual physical. A urinalysis is one way to detect certain diseases at an early stage. They include: ·          Kidney Disease ·          Liver Disease ·          Diabetes If you are preparing for surgery or are about to be admitted to the hospital, your doctor may want to test your urine. A urinalysis can also be part of a pregnancy test. If you have symptoms of kidney or urinary tract problems, you may need tests to help find the problem. You can also have this test regularly if you have a medical condition, such as kidney disease, t...

Consortium and Random Drug Testing Programs

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  Consortium and Random Drug Testing Programs goMDnow is a professional for building 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 self-employed, you will need to participate in the Consortium Randomized Drug Testing Program. Smaller DOT-regulated employers also have the option of enrolling in a consortium random drug testing program to facilitate compliance. Large DOT-regulated employers often require an independent DOT random testing consortium . DOT A...

TPA service & Why work with TPA?

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 Why work with TPA? Managing drug and alcohol testing programs is complex, and the risks of preventing workplace drug abuse while complying with federal regulations are high. Partnering with an experienced Third-Party Administrator (TPA) like goMDnow is an effective and cost-effective way to help manage your program. A TPA acts as an extension of an employer's human resources or security department to help ensure employee safety and compliance. The employer is the "first party" and the TPA is the "third party" that helps manage the "second party" participating in the testing program: TPA can manage the entire process from start to finish, or manage specific parts of the process, such as random drug screening selection. At goMDnow , our capabilities include: ·           Full Employee Drug and Alcohol Testing ·          Random selection and alliance management ·      ...

How Does a Urine Drug Test Work?

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  Urine Drug Test : Urine drug tests use a dipstick soaked with antibodies that react with THC. Test strips are inserted into the urine sample. Urine moves up the dipstick by absorption (capillary action), and the antibodies on the dipstick change color if any THC is present in the urine. The sensitivity level for most urine drug tests is set at 50 ng/mL, although some tests may be more sensitive. Urine drug tests typically require at least 30ml/urine and are over 99% accurate, so if your urine contains detectable amounts of THC, there is little hope of cheating the test. What drugs can a urine drug test detect? A urine drug test can detect: Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Benzodiazepines, Marijuana, Opiates, Barbiturates, Pentachlorophenol, Methadone, Oxycodone, and Ecstasy. How Long Can You Test Positive for Marijuana in Your Urine? Most people can test positive for up to 2 weeks with casual use and 30 days with extreme heavy use. This mainly depends on...

Does Failing a DOT Drug Test Go on Your Record Forever?

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DOT Drug and Alcohol : According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, records that fail the DOT drug and alcohol test will be kept for three years. Since most employers include employment background checks as a standard part of the hiring process, it is important to note that a single failed DOT drug and alcohol test can severely limit your employment opportunities during this time. Failing a DOT drug test can be a serious matter for many reasons. The  National Transportation Safety Board  found that failing a DOT drug test could result in immediate suspension or even termination of all employees working for companies that don't conduct random drug and alcohol testing. Consequences of Failing A DOT Drug Test: Every action has consequences. When it comes to drugs, even typical daily habits can have serious repercussions. A drug test is just one of the many reasons why you must avoid any substance abuse. Mentioned below are some of the conse...

What is the difference between TPA and C/TPA?

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  What is the difference between TPA and C/TPA? TPA and C/TPA There is no major difference. TPA is the original name for companies in the 1990s that were early adopters of selling drug tests. When USDOT rewrote drug testing rules in 2001, primarily for clarity, USDOT added the consortium. The term "Federated/Third Party Administrator" appears in the 2001 edition of 49 CFR Part 40. What is a Service Agent? Service agents are vendors involved in providing various drug and alcohol testing services. Suppliers help employers implement USDOT regulations. These may include: Urine collector Laboratory Medical Review Officer (MRO) Screening Test Technician (STT) Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT) Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) Drug-Free Workplace Policy Advisor The TPA coordinates various drug and alcohol testing services for employers and is also considered a service agent. These services can include random selection, preparation of annual Management Informat...