With its central location in the middle of the country, Oklahoma is a key transportation hub in the Southwest, Deep South, and Heartland of America. According to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, there are over 12,000 miles of highway in the state, which makes it a vital trade route for many transportation companies.
If your company relies on transportation, one of the major challenges you encounter is ensuring compliance with the numerous rules and regulations relating to the operation of commercial trucks and other vehicles, set by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). To address this challenge, the team at Fleet Drug Testing provides a solution: finding convenient testing locations near you. With our programs, we simplify the process of finding testing sites and guarantee precise results, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of your fleet.
Whether your route takes you through Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City or Interstate 44 in Tulsa, Fleet Drug Testing can locate a suitable testing site for your needs. To get started, contact us today or look through our other programs and enroll today.
Who Does the DOT Drug Testing Apply To in Oklahoma?
Within the framework of the DOT’s drug testing program, a key aspect involves the identification of employees who require drug testing. More specifically, all individuals designated as “safety-sensitive” fall under the purview of drug testing regulations. According to the DOT, a safety-sensitive employee is an individual who falls into one of the following categories:
- Drives commercial vehicles like trucks, buses, or heavy equipment.
- Does a job that could affect other people’s safety.
Under this definition, a “safety-sensitive” employee could include any of the following:
- Pilots and air traffic controllers
- Construction workers and heavy equipment operators
- Train engineers and maintenance crews
- Power plant operators
- Chemical plant workers
- Firefighters and police officers that operate vehicles
- Oil and gas workers
- Emergency Medical Technicians
Testing Program
With this established, there’s the actual application of the DOT testing program In Oklahoma. Because compliance with the federally regulated DOT drug testing program is a mandatory prerequisite for maintaining your license, it’s extremely important that you understand how the program works:
- Pre-employment testing – Before being hired for a safety-sensitive position, prospective employees are required to undergo a drug and alcohol test. Positive results can lead to disqualification from employment.
- Random testing – Safety-sensitive employees are subject to random drug and alcohol testing in accordance with DOT regulations. Employers employ a system that randomly selects employees for testing, with a minimum requirement of testing at least half of yous for drugs and at least 10% for alcohol within a one-year period.
- Reasonable suspicion testing – If there is a reasonable suspicion or belief that an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they must undergo testing as mandated by DOT regulations.
- Post-accident testing – In cases where a work-related accident or incident results in a fatality, serious injury, or significant property damage, the involved employee must undergo drug and alcohol testing.
- Return-to-duty testing – Following a positive drug or alcohol test result, you must complete a substance abuse treatment program and pass a “return-to-duty” test before resuming safety-sensitive duties.
- Follow-up testing – Employees who have tested positive for drugs or alcohol and have returned to their safety-sensitive roles must undergo follow-up testing as stipulated.
Currently, the DOT regulates drug testing using urine or saliva samples, screening for five types of drugs: marijuana (THC), cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and Phencyclidine (PCP). These tests must be conducted at certified locations, which are readily available throughout Oklahoma.
What Happens During DOT Drug Testing in Oklahoma?
Once you understand the need for drug testing as a safety-sensitive employee in Oklahoma, you can better prepare for testing. However, as a safety-sensitive employee, you’re further required to actually be tested at a certified location. DOT regulations are very strict, and cover not only when you’re to be tested, but how a compliant test takes place. Here’s a quick overview of the actual drug testing process:
- Notification – Your employer will provide you with detailed information about the upcoming drug testing, including the time and location.
- Sample collection – A trained collector at the testing site collects a urine or saliva sample from you, ensuring proper labeling and sealing to prevent tampering.
- Sample division – The collected sample is divided into two containers: the primary and split specimens. The primary specimen is sent to a certified laboratory for testing, while the split specimen is retained at the collection site as a precaution.
- Laboratory analysis – The primary specimen undergoes analysis at a certified lab using an immunoassay test. If the immunoassay result is positive, it is further confirmed using a more precise test called gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
- Medical Review Officer (MRO) review – An MRO reviews the test results and contacts you in the case of a positive result. The MRO investigates if there is a valid medical explanation, such as the use of prescription medications. If a valid medical reason exists, the result is reported as negative.
- Reporting to employer – The MRO reports the results to your employer. If the result is positive, immediate action is taken, and you are removed from safety-sensitive duties. Your employer may also be required to report the positive result to the DOT.
- Employee follow-up – If your result is positive, there could be further action taken, like undergoing a substance abuse evaluation and participating in a follow-up testing program. You must test negative on a return-to-duty test before you are permitted to resume your safety-sensitive duties.
Obviously, not following DOT regulations can harm your business, whether you manage trucks or drive solo. As such, you should avoid using drugs or alcohol while driving, and be sure to use a DOT-approved lab for tests. Not doing this can cast doubt on your results and jeopardize compliance.
Fleet Drug Testing Can Keep You Moving in Oklahoma
When you need a DOT drug testing location in Oklahoma, Fleet Drug Testing here to help. We offer various programs to ensure DOT compliance. With our network of certified drug testing locations in Oklahoma, we can help your business keep moving. To explore our programs further, visit our enrollment page. Contact us today to get started.
