Random Testing Instructions

• DOT Requires Drivers to Get Tested Immediately when Notified without any prior notice.  There is no 24 or 48 Hour Rule.  Immediately means after a Driver has been Notified, All the Driver's Actions must lead to an Immediate Collection.  Once a Driver is Notified, DOT does not allow the Driver to Drive until getting Tested.  If you are an Owner Operator, be prepared to Get Tested Immediately when know you were Selected.  DOT's Definition of "Get Tested Immediately" (page 19) - Click Here

Drug Testing Instructions - Click Here

• Order Drug Tests Online in your Express Labs account or use the Paper Quest Diagnostics Custody & Control Forms (CCF) that Express Labs provides (Only use Paper Forms if you can't Order Online).  After Enrolling, Express Labs does not accept Drug Test Results from other companies
• Only Notify Drivers after you have received the QPassport and have Called the Collection Site to Confirm the Site is Open and Performing DOT Drug Testing Collections.  Some Sites may have Temporarily Closed or have Reduced Hours due to Covid, Staffing or Weather Issues or may Require an Appointment.  Some Sites may not Start a Collection with less than 3 hours of closing because DOT Requires Drivers to produce a sample within 3 hours while drinking up to 40oz of water in the waiting room.  Once the Collection begins DOT does not allow Drivers to leave the site until the Collection is Completed

Breath Alcohol Testing Instructions - Click Here

• Order DOT Breath Alcohol Tests Online in your Express Labs account or Choose Any Site that performs DOT Breath Alcohol Testing, Pay for the Test, and send a Clear Copy of the DOT Breath Alcohol Results with the Receipt of Payment to Results@ExpressLabs.com
• Only Notify Drivers after you have received the QPassport and have Called the Collection Site to Confirm the Site is Open and Performing DOT Breath Alcohol Collections.  Some Sites may have Temporarily Closed or have Reduced Hours due to Covid, Staffing or Weather Issues or may require an Appointment

Deactivating Drivers Instructions - Click Here

• When are Drivers Required to be Deactivated?  DOT Requires Employers to Deactivate Drivers Immediately from the Random Pool who are Terminated, Not Hired, or Unable to be Random Tested During the Quarter Selected, for Any Reason, with enough time to have Results Reported within the Selection Period from the Re-Selected Driver
• How do Employers receive Re-Selections?  If a Driver is Deactivated, who was Selected, a Re-Selection is Automatically performed from your remaining Active Drivers, which may result in a Driver being Selected Multiple times in a Quarter.  DOT does not allow Re-Selections after the Quarter has ended
• Active Drivers List:  Express Labs Emails a Current Active Drivers List on the 1st of every Month to Review your Drivers with Instructions to Add & Deactivate Drivers

Frequently Asked Questions

• When and How are Members Notified for Random Selections?  Express Labs Emails Random Selections and Posts the Random Selections in Member's Express Labs Accounts.  Express Labs performs 4 Quarterly Computerized Random Selections in January, April, July & October to have a Minimum of 50% of Drivers Tested for Drugs & 10% for Alcohol yearly.  DOT Requires All Active Drivers to be Eligible to be Selected each Quarter which means Drivers may be Selected 0-4 times yearly
• What if you didn't receive an Email Notification?  Login to your Express Labs Account to view Random Selections in early February, May, August & November.  If you are an Owner Operator, be prepared to Get Tested Immediately when know you were Selected
• When does a Driver have to get Tested after being Notified?  DOT requires Drivers to Get Tested Immediately when Notified without any prior notice.  There is no 24 or 48 Hour Rule.  Immediately means after a Driver has been Notified, All the Driver's Actions must lead to an Immediate Collection.  Once a Driver is Notified, DOT does not allow the Driver to Drive until getting Tested.  If you are an Owner Operator, be prepared to Get Tested Immediately when know you were Selected.  DOT's Definition of "Get Tested Immediately" (page 19) - Click Here
• When does DOT Require Employers to Notify Drivers?  Only Notify Drivers after you have received the QPassport and have Called the Collection Site to Confirm the Site is Open.  DOT Requires Employers to Notify Drivers During the Quarter the Driver was Selected to have Results Reported within the Selection Period.  The Random Selection Periods end on March 31st, June 30th, September 30 & December 31st
• What if a Driver Refuses-to-Test?  DOT Requires the Employer to Report the Violation to the FMCSA Clearinghouse as a Refusal-to-Test, which is the same as a Positive Result.  Refusal-to-Test Instructions - Click Here
• What is an "Incomplete" Random Selection?  An Incomplete Selection means the Driver has been Selected for Random Testing but Results have not been Reported yet.  Random Selections are marked Complete when Results are Reported
• When are Drivers Added to the Random Pool & Eligible to be Selected?  DOT Requires Drivers to be Added Immediately to the Random Pool and Eligible to be Randomly Selected when Negative Pre-Employment DOT Drug Test Results are Reported by Express Labs Medical Review Officer (MRO) or when Added during Enrollment
• Can a Driver be Selected more than 1 time each Quarter?  Yes, If a Driver is Deactivated, who was Selected for Random Testing, a Re-Selection is Automatically made from your Remaining Active Drivers, which may result in a Driver being Selected Multiple times in a Quarter
• Can a Driver be Selected Consecutive Quarters?  Yes, If a Driver is Selected in January DOT does not want the Driver to have any assurance they will not be Selected again in April, July or October
• Can a Driver be Selected right after a Pre-Employment Drug Test?  Yes, DOT does not want the Driver to have any assurance they will not be Selected again
• What if a Driver is not Available to be Random Tested?  DOT Requires Employers to Deactivate Drivers Immediately from the Random Pool who are Terminated, Not Hired, or Unable to be Random Tested During the Quarter Selected, for Any Reason, with enough time to have Results Reported within the Selection Period from the Re-Selected Driver
• What if an Owner Operator is not Available to be Random Tested?  DOT requires Owner Operators to Deactivate themselves Before being Selected if they are Unavailable to be Random Tested for Any Reason

What happens if a Company does not Complete Random Selections?

• Failure to comply with Regulations set forth by 49 CFR Part 40 regarding Random Selections will result in Termination from Express Labs Consortium and the Violation may be Reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse.  DOT can fine companies $10,000+ per incomplete Random Selection
• DOT Requires Employers to Notify Drivers During the Quarter the Driver was Selected to have Results Reported within the Selection Period
• If an Owner Operator Refuses-to-Test, DOT Requires Express Labs to Report the Violation to the FMCSA Clearinghouse as a Refusal-to-Test, which is the same as a Positive Result
• Random Selections are also for Express Labs Compliance, and by not Completing your Random Selections this adversely affects our ability to keep All Members, 10,000+ Companies, in Compliance
• Express Labs must comply with DOT's Mandate to have a Minimum of 50% of Drivers Tested for Drugs & 10% for Alcohol yearly
• All Results are posted on Express Labs Consortium MIS Report that all Members need for DOT Audits & Inspections - Express Labs 2023 MIS Report - Click Here

Why can Drivers be Selected Multiple times a Year?

The Department of Transportation (DOT) random drug and alcohol testing program is designed to promote safety in the transportation industry by ensuring that employees who perform safety-sensitive functions are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on duty.  The key word here is "Random."  The random selection process is meant to be truly random, which means that some drivers may be selected multiple times in a year, while others may not be selected at all.  It's important to note that the randomness of the selection process is crucial to the effectiveness of random testing.  Even if some drivers are selected multiple times, this doesn't imply that they are suspected of any wrongdoing.  It's simply a way to maintain a strong deterrent against substance abuse and ensure the safety of both drivers and the general public on the roads.

• When are Drivers Eligible to be Selected? DOT Requires All Active Drivers to be Eligible to be Selected each Quarter, which means Drivers may be Selected 0-4 times yearly
• Statistical Probability: Random testing is designed to be truly random, meaning that any driver subject to DOT regulations has an equal chance of being selected each time the testing pool is drawn.  However, due to the nature of randomness, some drivers might be selected multiple quarters, while others might not be selected at all in the same period
• Random Process: The selection process for random testing is conducted through a computerized random selection process.  Each quarterly selection is independent of previous selections
• Equal Chance for All Drivers: The randomness of the selection process ensures that every driver has an equal chance of being selected, regardless of whether they've been tested before.  This helps maintain fairness and prevent potential biases in the selection process
• Ensuring Compliance: By selecting some drivers multiple times, DOT ensures that drivers are consistently adhering to the testing requirements and that no driver can predict when they might be tested
• Safety Emphasis: The primary goal of DOT random testing is to deter drug and alcohol use among safety-sensitive employees.  Drivers are responsible for operating large and potentially dangerous vehicles on public roads.  Impaired driving due to drug or alcohol use poses significant risks to public safety.  DOT requires frequent random testing to help ensure that drivers are less likely to engage in substance abuse, thereby reducing the chances of accidents caused by impairment
• Industry Integrity: Random testing contributes to the overall integrity of the transportation industry.  It shows that DOT and Drivers are committed to upholding safety standards and regulations, which helps build public trust in the industry

Why Members must complete All Drug Testing with Express Labs?

• DOT Requires Members to use the Quest Diagnostics Sub-Account Number from Express Labs for All Drug Testing because All Results must be posted on Express Labs Consortium MIS Report that all Members need for DOT Audits & Inspections
• Drug Tests not Collected with your Express Labs Quest Diagnostics Account Number do not count towards your DOT Compliance
• DOT does not allow "Private" Testing because if a Driver Tested Positive, DOT would have no assurance Members would send Positive Results to the Consortium