The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations require individuals who fail their drug or alcohol test to undergo an approved rehabilitation program before becoming certified again.
A Commercial driver who fails to submit to a federally mandated DOT drug or alcohol test must go through the return to duty process so that they are again eligible to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Employees who tested positive, refused a drug test, or violated the drug policy of the company they are working in should observe RTD process to continue their work.
It means that truckers must exercise additional care when it comes to complying with laws and regulations for a minimum of one year, and up to five years, depending on the severity of the violation.
It depends on the employer’s policy, if it says that the company will pay for the return to duty process then employers are obligated to pay for it otherwise employee has to bear the expense.
Keep this in mind that if a healthcare professional recommended a medication and advised your driver it was secure to use while being on a safety-sensitive job then there is neither a drug violation nor the driver is required to undertake the return to duty process.
Check out our published blog for more information: Prescription Drugs at Work
The main difference between both is that a pre-employment test screens potential candidates for drug or alcohol use before they are hired on the job, while a return-to-duty test is conducted on employees who have previously tested positive or violated the company's substance abuse policy and are seeking to resume their job responsibilities.
SAP (substance abuse professional) is a person who evaluates employees for violations of the DOT drug and alcohol program and makes recommendations for teaching, management, follow-up testing, and rehabilitation.
SAP assesses drivers after explaining their circumstances and recommends the type of recovery they need. For your CDL drivers to be put back into good standup and documented in the clearinghouse, drivers must complete the return-to-duty process according to the guidelines of SAP.
Positive or failed DOT drug and alcohol drug brings unfavorable results for the transportation company and the driver. The CDL drivers are immediately removed from their safety-sensitive positions. To resume efficient work, the tested-positive employee must complete the Return to duty process regulated by DOT and FMCSA.
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