DOT drug testing, nationwide.
DOT drug testing covers all six FMCSA-required test reasons: pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up. Member rate is $69 per test ($99 all-in for return-to-duty / follow-up tests, which is the $69 base plus the federally-required $30 direct-observation surcharge). 20,000+ collection sites nationwide. Same-day at most clinics, no appointment needed. Results in 24–72 hours, MRO-verified.
- SAMHSA-certified labs — same labs the federal government uses
- Licensed Medical Review Officer (MRO) on every test
- Electronic chain-of-custody form (e-CCF) — no paper to lose
- Results in 24–72 hours, posted directly to your portal
- 20,000+ collection sites in all 50 states — no appointment at most
- QuickApp consent link sent direct to the driver (FCRA-compliant)
When is DOT drug testing required?
FMCSA requires drug and/or alcohol testing in six specific situations. Each is governed by its own section of 49 CFR Part 382. Same lab panel, different trigger.
Pre-employment
Required before any CDL driver performs safety-sensitive duty for a new employer. Driver must have a verified negative result on file before first dispatch. 49 CFR 382.301.
Random
Unannounced selections from the random pool, at FMCSA-set annual rates: 50% drug, 10% alcohol. Each pool member has equal chance of selection regardless of past selections. 49 CFR 382.305.
Post-accident
Required after a qualifying accident — fatality, citation plus injury away from scene, or citation plus disabling tow. Alcohol within 8 hours, drugs within 32 hours. 49 CFR 382.303.
Reasonable suspicion
Requested by a supervisor trained in reasonable-suspicion observation, based on specific articulable observations of the driver's appearance, behavior, speech, or body odor. 49 CFR 382.307.
Return-to-duty
Required after a violation, before the driver can perform any safety-sensitive duty again. Must be directly observed. SAP must authorize the driver to test. 49 CFR 40 Subpart O.
Follow-up
Unannounced tests prescribed by the SAP after a successful return-to-duty test. Minimum 6 in the first 12 months; up to 60 months total. All directly observed. 49 CFR 40 Subpart O.
Order. Test. Result.
The mechanics are the same regardless of why the test was ordered. Three steps from the moment of order to the moment the result lands in your portal.
Order placed
You order through your member portal or by phone. We generate a QuickApp link with the e-CCF and a list of nearby collection sites, sent to the driver's email — never the employer's, in keeping with FCRA.
Driver tests at clinic
Driver walks into any of the 20,000+ network sites, gives a urine sample, signs the e-CCF on a tablet. Most clinics are walk-in. The sample is sealed in front of the driver and shipped to the SAMHSA-certified lab.
MRO-verified result
Lab analyzes the sample. Negative results post in 24 hours. Non-negative results route to a Medical Review Officer who calls the driver to verify any prescription before reporting. Final verified result lands in your portal.
Five drug classes. Federal cut-offs.
Every DOT drug test uses the same five-class urine panel mandated by HHS for federal workplace testing. Cut-off levels follow the current HHS Mandatory Guidelines and are updated when HHS publishes revisions.
Marijuana
Cannabinoid metabolites — initial screen + confirmatory GC-MS / LC-MS. Per HHS guidelines.
Cocaine
Benzoylecgonine metabolite. Per HHS guidelines.
Opiates
Codeine, morphine, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone. Per HHS guidelines.
Amphetamines
Amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, MDA. Per HHS guidelines.
Phencyclidine
Per HHS guidelines.
Need a non-DOT panel (5/9/10/14-panel for non-safety-sensitive employees)? See nationwide drug testing.
How much does a DOT drug test cost?
Member rates. Non-members pay walk-in retail at the same network sites — usually $100–$140 per drug test depending on the clinic.
Related pages
- Motor carrier compliance hub — every FMCSA requirement under one roof
- FMCSA drug testing consortium enrollment
- Pre-employment drug testing
- Post-accident drug testing — 24/7 dispatch
- Return-to-duty testing
- DOT random drug testing program
- Post-SAP return-to-duty management program
- Non-DOT and nationwide testing
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs are tested in a DOT drug test?
DOT drug tests use the federally mandated 5-panel: marijuana (THC), cocaine, opiates (including codeine, morphine, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone), amphetamines (including methamphetamine and MDMA), and PCP. Cut-off levels follow current HHS Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs.
When are direct-observation drug tests required?
Per 49 CFR 40.67, direct observation is required for all return-to-duty and follow-up tests, and for any test where the collector has reason to suspect tampering. A same-sex collector physically observes the urine sample being provided. Pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion tests are not normally observed unless a tampering indicator is present.
What counts as a refusal to test?
Per 49 CFR 40.191, refusal includes: failing to appear for a test in the time allotted, leaving the collection site before completion, failing to provide a sample, providing an adulterated or substituted sample, refusing to take a directly-observed test when required, and refusing to sign the chain-of-custody form. A refusal is treated identically to a positive — the driver is removed from safety-sensitive duty and must complete the SAP return-to-duty process.
How does the MRO process work?
Every non-negative lab result is reviewed by a licensed Medical Review Officer before it is reported to the employer. The MRO contacts the driver to verify any prescription that could explain the result. Only if there is no legitimate medical explanation is the test reported as a verified positive. This protects drivers with valid prescriptions from being flagged.
What about prescription medications?
A valid prescription for a medication that triggers a non-negative result is verified by the MRO during the result review. If the prescription is legitimate and the dose is consistent with the lab finding, the MRO reports the test as negative. The MRO may notify the employer of safety concerns if a medication could affect safe driving, without disclosing the specific medication.
How fast do results come back?
Negative results are typically reported within 24 hours of the lab receiving the sample. Non-negative results take 48 to 72 hours because the MRO must contact the driver before reporting. Specimens that need confirmatory testing or prescription verification can take longer. We post results to your portal as soon as the MRO releases them.
Need a drug test ordered?
Members order through the portal in under a minute. New carriers can enroll today and order within the hour.