DOT's Requirements for Random Testing

DOT Requires Drivers to Get Tested Immediately when Notified without any Prior Notice.  DOT only wants to know what's in a Driver's system (Drugs or Alcohol) when Drivers are Notified.

Owner-Operators Random Testing Instructions

DOT Requires Owner-Operators to Get Tested Immediately when you Receive an Email or Logged into your Account and saw you were Selected for Random Testing.  DOT only wants to know what's in your system (Drugs or Alcohol) when you "Know you were Selected".

1. Stop Driving Immediately
2. Order your Drug or Alcohol Test in your Express Labs Account
3. Call the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open after you receive the QPassport before Driving to the Site

• Drug Testing Instructions - Click Here  Members are Required to Order Drug Tests Online (QPassports) in your Express Labs Account or use the Paper Quest Forms (provided by Express Labs)
• Alcohol Testing Instructions - Click Here  Members are Required to Order Breath Alcohol Tests Online (QPassports) in your Express Labs Account or Choose Any Site, Pay for the Test and Send Express Labs the Results
• Failure to Get Tested Immediately after "Knowing you were Selected" is a Refusal-to-Test which is the same as a Positive Result

Employers Random Testing Instructions

DOT Requires Employers to Notify Drivers "As Soon as Possible" during the Selection Period after you have Received an Email or Logged into your Account to view your Random Selections.  DOT Requires Drivers to Get Tested Immediately when Notified without any Prior Notice.

1. Order your Drug or Alcohol Test in your Express Labs Account
2. Notify Drivers after you have Called the Site to Confirm they are Open and received the QPassport

• Drug Testing Instructions - Click Here  Members are Required to Order Drug Tests Online (QPassports) in your Express Labs Account or use the Paper Quest Forms (provided by Express Labs)
• Alcohol Testing Instructions - Click Here  Members are Required to Order Breath Alcohol Tests Online (QPassports) in your Express Labs Account or Choose Any Site, Pay for the Test and Send Express Labs the Results
• Deactivating Drivers Instructions - Click Here  DOT Requires Employers to Deactivate Drivers Immediately who are Terminated or Unavailable to be Randomly Tested During the Quarter Selected
• Drivers Failure to Get Tested Immediately after being Notified is a Refusal-to-Test which is the same as a Positive Result.
• Employers Failure to Notify Drivers Promptly may lead to Legal Liability if a Selected Driver has not been Notified and is in an Accident involving an Injury or Fatality

Deactivating Drivers Instructions

DOT Requires Employers to Deactivate Drivers Immediately who are Terminated, Not Hired, Seasonal Companies, Extended Leave, Temporary Non-Driving Status, Vacation, International Travel, Medical Procedure or Unavailable to be Randomly Tested During the Quarter for Any Reason with enough time to Notify the Re-Selected Driver and have Results Reported before the Quarter ends.  DOT Requires Owner Operators to Deactivate themselves if they are Unavailable to be Randomly Tested for Any Reason before being Selected.

1. Login to your Express Labs Account
2. Go to Manage Drivers on the Top Tabs
3. Click Deactivate Driver
4. Click Save Changes
5. Click Continue to Deactivate the Driver

• Re-Selections: If a Randomly Selected Driver is Deactivated another Active Driver is Automatically Re-Selected which may result in a Driver being Selected more than once in the same Quarter.  DOT only allow Re-Selections during the Selection Period.
• Reactivating Drivers: DOT Require a new Pre-Employment Drug Test to Reactivate a Driver who was Deactivated after being Randomly Selected.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and How Members are Notified for Random Testing?

Express Labs conducts Quarterly Computerized Random Selections in January, April, July & October.  Members are Notified by Email and Random Selections are Posted in your Account.

• If you did not receive an Email - Check your Express Labs Account 4 Days a Year on the 1st of February, May, August & November in "Random Selections" on the Left Side Tabs

When are Drivers Added to the Random Pool?

• DOT Requires Drivers to be Immediately Added to the Random Pool, and Eligible to be Randomly Selected, when Negative Pre-Employment Drug Test Results are Reported by Express Labs MRO

When are Drivers Eligible to be Randomly Selected?

• All Active Drivers must remain Eligible for DOT Required Random Testing at all times.  Each Active Driver must have an Equal chance of being Selected every Quarter and a Driver may be Selected anywhere from 0 to 4 times per year

Can Drivers be Selected Multiple Times a Year?

• Yes, DOT Intentionally Requires that no Driver assume they are Exempt from being Selected again during the Year if they are Selected in January, April, July and/or October

Can Drivers be Selected Multiple Times a Quarter?

• Yes, when a Driver who was Selected for Random Testing is Deactivated, an Automated Re-Selection is conducted from your Remaining Active Drivers. This may result in a Driver being Selected more than once within the Same Quarter

Can a Driver be Selected right after Pre-Employment Results?

• Yes, DOT does not exempt Drivers from Random Testing because they recently passed a Pre-Employment Drug Test.

How to Reduce Random Selections

• Deactivate Drivers Immediately upon Termination or on the 1st of each Month when Express Labs provides your current Active Drivers List
• Send Drivers for Pre-Employment Drug Testing after they have been Hired pending Test Results

DOT's Policy for Refusal-to-Test

Drivers who do not Get Tested Immediately after being Notified for Random Testing is considered a Refusal-to-Test which has the same Consequences as a Positive Test Result.

• Owner-Operators: DOT Requires Express Labs to Determine if an Owner-Operator has Refused-to-Test and Report the Violation to the FMCSA Clearinghouse
• Employers: DOT Requires Employers to Determine if a Driver has Refused-to-Test and Report the Violation to the FMCSA Clearinghouse
• DOT's Policy for Refusal-to-Test - Click Here
• DOT's Policy for "Get Tested Immediately" page 19 Click Here
• DOT's Requirements for Positive Results & Refusal-to-Test - Click Here

DOT's Policy for Incomplete Random Selections

Companies that Fail to Complete Random Selections are in Non-Compliance with DOT Regulations. Your Drivers are part of a Random Pool with over 30,000+ Drivers from more than 10,000 Companies.  Compliance protects both the Consortium and every other Member Company.  Failure to Test or Notify a Driver may result in Legal Liability if a Selected Driver is ever in an Accident causing Injury or Fatality.

• Violation: Non-Compliance with Random Selections
• Fine: Up to $10,000 per Violation
• Regulation: 49 CFR § 382.305
• Express Labs: Removal from the Consortium

DOT's Requirement for Express Labs Consortium

Express Labs is Mandated by DOT to ensure that 50% of Drivers are Tested for Drugs and 10% for Alcohol each Year with Results Recorded on the MIS Report that All Members need for DOT Audits.

• 2025 MIS Report - Click Here