Compliance Guide

Overview

Use the compliance guide to manage your DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing Program.

Adding Drivers

Send drivers for Pre-Employment DOT drug testing after completing a Full Clearinghouse Query, Drug & Alcohol Policy, and Supervisor Training Course.

• Drivers are automatically added after a negative pre-employment DOT drug test is reported by Express Labs Medical Review Officer (MRO)
• A new Pre-Employment drug test is required for new hires and drivers who have been out of a random testing pool for 30+ days or were previously deactivated after a random selection
• Adding Drivers – View Instructions

Active Drivers List

Express Labs provides an updated Active Drivers List on the 1st of every month and whenever drivers are added or deactivated.  Review your list to remove inactive drivers and verify driver license information is current.  Maintaining an accurate list helps prevent unnecessary random selections and ensures compliance.  Driver license information is required for your Active Drivers List and to order tests online.

• Download your Active Drivers List anytime in Certificates & Driver List (left side tabs)
• Update Drivers Licenses - View Instructions

Deactivating Drivers

DOT requires employers to immediately deactivate drivers — and owner-operators before being selected — if they are no longer active or unavailable for random testing (terminated, on leave, vacation, etc.).  Failure to promptly deactivate inactive drivers may result in unnecessary random selections.

• Deactivate Drivers - View Instructions

Random Testing

Random selections are emailed and posted to your Express Labs account each January, April, July, and October.  Your Express Labs account serves as the official notification of random selections.

• If you do not receive an email, log in and review your account on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
• Random Testing - View Instructions

Testing Instructions

Drug Testing

Once enrolled, only DOT drug tests ordered through Express Labs are accepted.  If online ordering is unavailable, use the Quest Paper Forms provided by Express Labs.

• Drug Testing – View Instructions

Alcohol Testing

Order DOT Breath Alcohol Tests through your Express Labs account.  If Online Ordering is unavailable, use any DOT Breath Alcohol Testing site and email the results to Express Labs.

• Alcohol Testing – View Instructions

Clearinghouse

Employers, owner-operators and drivers must register in the FMCSA Clearinghouse and complete all required queries.  Express Labs does not register or perform queries for members.

• Full Queries must be performed before hiring new drivers
• Limited Queries must be performed annually for all drivers
• Clearinghouse – View Instructions

Real-Time Test Tracking with ESP

Access to Real-Time Test Tracking through the Employer Solutions Portal (ESP), provided through Express Labs' partnership with Quest Diagnostics.  ESP access is included with your Express Labs membership.

• Real-Time Test Tracking (ESP) – View Instructions

Positive Results & Refusal-to-Test

Follow DOT requirements for positive drug tests, positive alcohol tests, refusals to test, split specimen testing, SAP referrals and Clearinghouse reporting.

• Positive Results & Refusal-to-Test Instructions – View Instructions

Return-to-Duty & Follow-Up

Manage Return-to-Duty testing, Follow-Up testing, SAP requirements, Clearinghouse reporting, and driver reinstatement after a DOT violation.

• Return-to-Duty & Follow-Up Instructions – View Instructions

Update Account Information

Maintain current company contacts, driver license information and account settings to ensure compliance notifications and program communications are received.

• Account Updates - View Instructions

Billing Information

Manage payment methods, invoices and account billing settings.

• Billing Information – View Instructions

Express Labs FMCSA Random Drug & Alcohol Consortium
Compliance Guide | Updated 2026