When it comes to analyzing the presence of drugs in the workplace, there are two popular testing methods: instant drug testing and laboratory drug testing. While these tests both aim to detect illegal substances, they do so in a different manner – meaning that in certain cases, one method may be more accurate or cost-effective than the other. Drug and alcohol testing plays an essential role in staying DOT-compliant. In this blog post, we explain the differences between instant and laboratory drug testing, which is needed for DOT compliance, and the pros & cons of each method so you can de ..read more

The Department of Transportation (DOT) holds commercial drivers to a certain standard, providing requirements for who can and cannot work in the industry. One of these requirements is the DOT drug test. With this test, the DOT prevents many accidents and safety hazards resulting from substance abuse. For most people, the drug test isn’t a problem. But what do failed DOT drug tests mean? There’s a lot riding on these test results, so here’s what you need to know if yours come back positive. What Is a DOT Drug Test? In 1991, the Department of Transportation laid the groundwork for federal alcoh ..read more

DOT compliance is an important subject for companies that maintain fleets of commercial vehicles, such as companies in the transportation or construction industries. DOT compliance ensures that companies operating vehicles for commercial use behave responsibly when hiring and managing drivers. So today, the team at New Era Drug Testing is here to answer the question: “What is DOT compliance?” We will cover the components of complying with DOT rules and discuss the consequences of violating DOT compliance. What Is DOT Compliance? The Department of Transportation (DOT) establishes regulat ..read more

The Clearinghouse is a secure online database created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) within the United States government. It provides permitted individual’s or companies access to real-time information about drug and alcohol program violations. Therefore, a fmcsa clearinghouse requires authorized users to register to the system. Those who should partake in the fmcsa clearinghouse registration include drivers that hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or commercial learners permit, as well as employers of these drivers. Timing of FMCSA Clearinghouse Registration ..read more

In the transportation industry, it’s important to maintain safety and compliance with all Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. This includes drug testing for truck drivers and other personnel. There are specific forms that must be completed in order to ensure a proper drug test, including the chain of custody form (commonly abbreviated to CoC or CCF). If you are a DOT member, then you may be familiar with the term “chain of custody form.” But what is it exactly? A CCF is a document or paper trail that ensures the integrity of care during a drug test. It tracks the movements of a sp ..read more

Did you know that more than 70% of drug abusers in America have a steady job? Many individuals who use drugs are very good at covering their tracks, which can make them tough to spot at first—however, it’s crucial for companies to know what to look for, since these employees can have a devastating effect and can even cause a businesses to lose profits. This is one of the reasons why random workplace drug testing is useful; however, it’s also good to be on the lookout for typical red flags. Common Signs Of Drug Abuse As mentioned before, many drug abusers are good at hiding their problem ..read more

Would you understand what it meant if you received information that a drug test that was administered to you or your employee came back as “negative dilute”? First of all, what is this? And secondly, does this mean the drug test is positive or negative? This is an important thing for companies that do drug testing to understand. What A Negative Dilute Drug Test Result Means When a drug test comes back as a negative dilute, it basically means that there was too much water in the urine to get an accurate screening. The creatinine concentration in the urine sample is the primary measurement for i ..read more

Did you know that according to Quest Diagnostics, the number of employee drug test results showing up positive for drug abuse are at the highest they’ve been in twelve years? This reporting (which was were based on more than 10 million workforce drug tests) shows that cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana have all shown increases in use across every testing category, and within nearly every specimen type. This increase in positive drug tests is putting a lot of pressure on companies that want clean workers—and it’s actually putting pressure on the economy as a whole. So, What’s Causing The I ..read more

Since 1989, DOT drug testing regulations have been set firmly in place. And until December 2016, there was a tedious five-part paper form to be completed as part of the submission process. Last year, National Drug Screening announced that DOT employer drug testing would be “going paperless”, meaning labs were approved by the Department of Health and Human Services to electronically process drug tests for employees. This is something that employers have been wanting for years, and technology finally caught up with industry demand in 2016. While an announcement from eight months back&n ..read more

As of early 2017, several large motor carriers—Dupré Logistics, Maverick Transportation, Knight Transportation, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and two others—began petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to allow hair follicle drug testing instead of urine testing. Their reason? They claim that hair follicle testing is more effective than urine drug testing when it comes to stopping individuals who abuse drugs from getting truck driving jobs. Trying To Keep Drug Abusers Off The Road While these petitioners began their plea in early 2017, they’re still working hard to get the ..read more