Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know to keep your Company in Compliance

Adding Drivers to the DOT Random Pool Instructions - Click Here

Upon Enrolling: Drivers can be Added During Enrollment that have been in a Random Pool within the Previous 30 Days and have Negative Pre-Employment Drug Test Results in your Company Name

After Enrolling: Send Drivers for Pre-Employment Drug Testing by Ordering Online or using the Quest Paper Forms we provide (If you can't Order Online).  After Enrolling, Express Labs does not accept Drug Test Results from other Companies

• DOT Requires a New Pre-Employment DOT Drug Test if a Driver or your Company has not been in a Random Pool within the Previous 30 Days

Drivers are Added to the Random Pool and Cleared to Drive when:

• Negative DOT Pre-Employment Drug Test Results are Reported by Express Labs
• Drug & Alcohol Policy has been Completed
• Employer & Drivers are Registered in the FMCSA Clearinghouse
• Full Query has be Completed in the FMCSA Clearinghouse
• All Supervisors have taken the Supervisor Training Course (Owner Operators are Exempt)

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

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).  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. Call the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open Before Driving there
7. 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, Hospitals, Private Doctors, Urgent Cares & After-Hours Sites or use the Collection Site Locator - Click Here

Notifying Drivers for Random Testing

DOT Requires Employers to Notify Drivers as soon as possible During the Quarter the Driver was Selected with No Prior Notice.  Call the Collection Site to Confirm they are Open before Notifying Drivers.  It is Advisable to Notify Drivers Monday-Friday in the Morning when most Sites are Open.  Notify Drivers for Breath Alcohol Testing right Before or After a Shift

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.  DOT Requires a New Pre-Employment Drug Test if a Driver is Deactivated after being Selected for Random Testing.  Owner Operators are Required to Deactivate themselves if they are Unavailable for Any Reason Before being Selected.  Express Labs sends a Current Active Drivers List on the 1st of the Month with Instructions to Deactivate Drivers

1. Go to Manage Drivers on the Top Tabs
2. Click Deactivate Driver Driver
3. Click Save Changes
4. Click Continue and an Updated Active Driver List will be Emailed

• 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

Random Testing Instructions - Click Here

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

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

When are Employers Required to Notify Drivers?

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

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

What is the FMCSA Clearinghouse?  Click Here

The FMCSA Clearinghouse acts as a Centralized Database for Storing Records of Drug and Alcohol Violations by CDL holders, including Positive Test Results, Refusals-to-Test, and the Return-to-Duty Process.  DOT Requires Employers & Owner Operators to Conduct a Full Query on Drivers, Prior to Pre-Employment Drug Testing, in the FMCSA Clearinghouse to Check for any Prior Drug and Alcohol Violations to make sure the Driver is Cleared to Drive and Limited Queries for All Drivers within 1 Year of Driver's Hire Date

What are DOT's Audit Requirements for Drug & Alcohol Testing?

• FMCSA Clearinghouse Registration: Employers, Drivers & Owner Operators are Required to Register in the FMCSA Clearinghouse - Click Here
• FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries: DOT Requires Employers & Owner Operators to Conduct a Full Query on Drivers, Prior to Pre-Employment Drug Testing, in the FMCSA Clearinghouse to Check for any Prior Drug and Alcohol Violations to make sure the Driver is Cleared to Drive and Limited Queries for All Drivers within 1 Year of Driver's Hire Date - Click Here
• Drug & Alcohol Policy: DOT Requires Drivers be provided with a Full Copy of the Completed Signed & Dated Drug & Alcohol Policy Prior to Pre-Employment Drug Testing.  The Drug & Alcohol Policy Prior has a Release Granting Employers Authorization to send Drivers for Pre-Employment Drug Testing - Click Here
• Pre-Employment Results: DOT Requires New Negative Pre-Employment DOT Drug Test Results if a Driver has not been in a Random Pool within the previous 30 Days or if your Company Membership has been Deactivated for 30+ Days - Click Here
• Supervisor Training Course (Owner Operators are Exempt): DOT Requires all Supervisors take the Supervisor Reasonable Suspicion Training Course to Add Drivers to the Random Pool.  The Purpose of this Training is to enable Supervisors to Recognize and Determine the Signs and Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Abuse to send Drivers for Reasonable Suspicion Drug or Alcohol Testing.  Members can Order the Online Course in your Express Labs Account
• Random Selections: All Random Selections must be Completed.  Express Labs Emails Random Selections and Posts the Random Selections in Member's Express Labs Accounts in January, April, July & October.  If you didn't receive an Email Notification Check your Express Labs Account to view Random Selections in early February, May, August & November - Click Here
• Express Labs 2023 MIS Report: 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 - Click Here
• Drivers Licenses: DOT Requires Drivers Licenses to be Listed on your Active Drivers List and to Order Drug & Alcohol Tests Online - Click Here
• DOT Authority Number: DOT Requires your DOT Authority Number to be Listed on your Certificate - Click Here

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

When are DOT Drug & Alcohol Tests Required?  Click Here

• Pre-Employment – An employer must receive a negative drug test result before permitting a CDL driver to operate a CMV (§382.301).
• Post-Accident – Drug and alcohol tests may be required after crashes according to the following chart (§382.303)
• Random – CDL drivers must be randomly tested throughout the year (§382.305); an employer who employs only himself/herself as a driver, who is not leased to a motor carrier, shall implement a random testing program of two or more covered employees in the random testing selection pool as a member of a consortium (see §382.305 interpretation 11)
• Reasonable Suspicion – Drivers who appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be immediately tested (§382.307). Employers must train CDL driver supervisors to detect the symptoms of driver impairment (§382.603).
• Return-to-Duty – Required for drivers who tested positive, refused, or otherwise violated the prohibitions of 49 CFR Part 382 Subpart B; and who have completed the return-to-duty process with a DOT-qualified substance abuse professional. This test is directly observed, and a negative result is required before resuming driving duties (§382.309 and §40.305).
• Follow-Up – Required for drivers who tested positive, refused, or otherwise violated the prohibitions of 49 CFR Part 382 Subpart B; and who have completed the return-to-duty process with a DOT-qualified substance abuse professional, and have tested negative for a return-to-duty test. This testing is prescribed by the substance abuse professional for a minimum of 6 directly observed tests in 12 months, but can be extended an additional four years (§382.311 and Title 49 Subtitle A Part 40 Subpart O §40.307)