Random Testing Instructions

DOT Requires Drivers to Get Tested Immediately when Notified with No Prior Notice.  There is no 2 Hour Rule, "Immediately" means when a Driver is Notified for Random Testing they must be Tested without Delay.  DOT only wants to know what's in a Driver's system when they are Notified.  DOT does not allow a Driver on the Road after being Notified except to Get Tested

Drug Testing Instructions - Click Here

The 2 Options for Drug Testing are Ordering Online or using the Quest Paper Forms we provide (If you can't Order Online).  Call the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open Before Driving there.  After Enrolling, Express Labs does not accept Drug Test Results from other Companies

Option 1: Order Drug Tests Online (Collection Fees Included)

1. Go to "Order Drug Tests" on the Top Left Tabs in your Account
2. Select the Reason for Testing
3. Find a Collection Site
4. Order the Drug Test
5. Check your Email for the QPassport (from Quest within 1 Hour)
6. Bring the QPassport to the Site or the Collector Scans the Barcode from Driver's Phone

Option 2: Paper Quest Diagnostics Forms

In-Network Collection Sites (Collection Fees Included)

• Use the Paper Quest Forms that Express Labs provides if you can not Order Online
• Call the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open Before Driving there
• Find In-Network Collection Sites: Click Here

Out-of-Network Collection Sites (Collection Fees Not Included)

• Use Any Site that Collects for Quest with the Paper Quest Forms that Express Labs provides if you can not Order Online
• Call the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open Before Driving there
• Find Out-of-Network Collection Sites: Google "DOT Drug Testing Near Me" for Sites that Include Concentra, Hospitals, Private Doctors, Most Urgent Cares

Breath Alcohol Testing Instructions - Click Here

The 2 Options for Breath Alcohol Testing are Ordering Online or Choose Any Site, Pay for the Test, Send Express Labs the Results.  Call the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open Before Driving there

Option 1: Order Breath Alcohol Tests Online

1. Go to "Order Alcohol Tests" on the Top Left Tabs in your Account
2. Select the Reason for Testing
3. Find a Collection Site
4. Order the Alcohol Test
5. Check your Email for the QPassport (from Quest within 1 Hour)
6. Bring the QPassport to the Site or the Collector Scans the Barcode from Driver's Phone

Option 2: Choose Any Site, Pay for the Test, Send Express Labs the Results

• Choose Any Site that performs DOT Breath Alcohol Testing, Pay for the Test, and send the DOT Breath Alcohol Results with the Receipt of Payment to Results@ExpressLabs.com
• Google "Alcohol Testing Sites Near Me" for Concentra or Urgent Cares or use the Collection Site Locator - Click Here

Notifying Drivers for Random Testing

Notify Drivers After you have Called the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open After you have received the QPassport.  DOT Requires Drivers to be Notify As Soon As Possible During the Quarter of the Selection.  It is Advisable to Notify Drivers Monday-Friday in the Morning.  Notify Drivers for Breath Alcohol Testing right Before or After a Shift.  DOT Requires Drivers to Get Tested Immediately when Notified with No Prior Notice

Deactivating Drivers Instructions - Click Here

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

1. Go to Manage Drivers on the Top Tabs
2. Click Deactivate Driver
3. Click Save Changes
4. Click Continue to Deactivate the Driver
5. An Updated Active Driver List will Automatically be Emailed when a Driver is Deactivated

• Re-Selections are Randomly Selected 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 sends a Current Active Drivers List on the 1st of the Month with Instructions to Add and Deactivate Drivers.  Members may Download an Active Drivers List in your Account on the Left Side Tabs

Frequently Asked Questions - Click Here

• Everything you need to know to keep your Company in Compliance

When does Express Labs perform Random Selections?

Express Labs performs 4 Quarterly Computerized Random Selections in January, April, July & October to comply with DOT's Mandate to have a Minimum of 50% of Drivers Tested for Drugs & 10% for Alcohol yearly

• How are Members Notified for Random Selections?
  • Express Labs Emails Random Selections and Posts the Random Selections in Member's Express Labs Accounts in January, April, July & October
• What if you didn't receive an Email Notification?
  • Check your Express Labs Account to view Random Selections in early February, May, August & November if you didn't receive an Email Notification, Monday-Friday, in the Morning

When are Drivers Eligible to be Selected for Random Testing?

DOT Requires All Active Drivers to be Eligible to be Selected each Quarter.  Drivers are Eligible to be Randomly Selected when Added to the Random Pool with Negative Pre-Employment Drug Test Results or during Enrollment

• Can Drivers be Selected Multiple times a Year?
  • DOT Requires All Active Drivers to be Eligible to be Selected each Quarter, which means Drivers may be Selected 0-4 times yearly
• Can Drivers 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 Drivers be Selected more than 1 time each Quarter?
  • Yes, If a Driver is Deactivated, who was Selected, then DOT Requires the Re-Selected Driver to be Randomly Selected from your remaining Active Drivers, which may result in a Driver being Selected Multiple times in a Quarter
• Can Drivers 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 is a Driver is Selected has not been Hired?
  • Deactivate the Driver and Notify the Re-Selected Driver if the Driver is not Hired
  • Only send Drivers for Pre-Employment Drug Testing, After being Hired, Pending Results because DOT Requires Drivers to be Added Immediately to the Random Pool when Negative Pre-Employment Drug Test Results are Reported and Eligible to be Selected for Random Testing
• How to Reactivate a Driver who was Deactivated after being Selected? 
  • DOT Requires a New Pre-Employment Drug Test if a Driver is Deactivated after being Selected for Random Testing
• What if an Owner Operator is not Going to be Available for Random Testing?
  • DOT Requires Owner Operators to Deactivate themselves from the Random Pool before being Selected if they are not available to be Random Tested because of Vacation, Illness or Out of the Country.  DOT Requires New Pre-Employment DOT Drug Tests if a Driver has not been in a Random Pool within the Previous 30 Days
• How to get a Current Active Drivers List?
  • Express Labs sends a Current Active Drivers List on the 1st of the Month with Instructions to Add and Deactivate Drivers.  Members may Download an Active Drivers List in your Account on the Left Side Tabs

What is Refusal-to-Test?

Drivers who do not Get Tested Immediately when Notified are Required to be Reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse as a Refusal-to-Test, which is the same as a Positive Result.  If an Owner Operator is Notified and does not Get Tested Immediately, Express Labs is Required to Report the Violation to the FMCSA Clearinghouse as a Refusal, which is the same as a Positive Result

• Refusal-to-Test Instructions - Click Here
• DOT's Definition of "Get Tested Immediately" (page 19) Click Here

What happens to Companies who Fail to Complete Random Selections?

Companies who Fail to Complete Random Selections may be Terminated from the Consortium and be Reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse for Non-Compliance with 49 CFR Part 40 regarding Random Selections.  Failure to Complete Random Selections affects Express Labs Ability to keep All Members in Compliance.  DOT may Fine $10,000+ Per Incomplete Random Selection.  Companies that are Terminated for Non-Compliance will Forfeit the Remaining Time of Membership and can not be Reactivated.

• 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 MIS Report that all Members need for DOT Audits & Inspections.  Express Labs 2023 MIS Report - Click Here

Why DOT Requires All Drug Testing to be Completed with Express Labs?

After Enrolling, Express Labs does not accept Drug Testing Results from other Companies.  Members are Required to Order Drug Tests Online in your Express Labs account or use the Paper Quest Diagnostics Custody & Control Forms that Express Labs provides (Only use Paper Forms if you can not Order Online) for All Drug Testing to ensure All Drug Test Results are posted on Express Labs Consortium MIS Report.  Collection Sites are affiliated with Hundreds of Laboratories and Consortiums throughout the Country.  It's only when you use the Quest Diagnostics Sub-Account Number that was assigned by Express Labs that Results can be Reported to your Express Labs Consortium Account.

• All Drug Results are posted on Express Labs Consortium MIS Report that all Members need for DOT Audits & Inspections - Express Labs 2023 MIS Report - Click Here
• If the Results are not from Express Labs, the Driver must be Re-Tested for a New DOT Drug Test by Ordering Online in your Express Labs account or by using the Paper Quest Diagnostics Custody & Control Forms that Express Labs provides (Only use Paper Forms if you can not Order Online)

Why can Drivers be Selected Multiple times a Year?

The Department of Transportation's (DOT) Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Program is designed to promote Safety in the Transportation Industry by ensuring that Drivers are not under the influence of Drugs or Alcohol while on Duty.  The key word here is "Random."  Random Testing is designed to be truly Random, meaning that any Driver has an Equal Chance of being Selected each Quarter.  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.  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 Drugs or Alcohol Abuse to Ensure the Safety of both Drivers and the General Public on the Roads.

• 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 has an equal chance of being Selected each Quarter.  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 Selected in Previous Quarters
• 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 Selected
• Safety Emphasis: The Primary Goal of DOT Random Testing is to Deter Drug and Alcohol use among Drivers.  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

DOT Resources

• Employer Handbook - Click Here
• Employee Handbook - Click Here
• Employee Handbook (Spanish) - Click Here
• DOT's Drug & Alcohol Program - Click Here
• Drug & Alcohol Testing Brochure - Click Here
• Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance (ODAPC) - Click Here
• Supervisor Training Course Requirements - Click Here
• Best Practices for DOT Random Drug & Alcohol Testing - Click Here
• DOT Random Testing Rules & Frequently Asked Questions - Click Here