Drug testing, everywhere your team works.
A collection site within driving distance of every US ZIP code — 20,000+ facilities in all 50 states. DOT and non-DOT panels, urine / hair / oral fluid specimens, breath alcohol, ETG alcohol. Same labs, same Medical Review Officer (MRO), same workflow. The panel changes — the network doesn't.
- SAMHSA-certified labs — the same labs the federal government uses
- Licensed Medical Review Officer (MRO) verification on every lab-based result
- Electronic chain-of-custody — Federal CCF for DOT, custom CCF for non-DOT
- QuickApp consent link delivered to the applicant (FCRA-compliant)
- Result posted to your portal — DER or HR notified by email
- Same-day testing at most of 20,000+ network sites, no appointment
Same network. Different rulebook.
Most employers think drug testing equals DOT. It doesn't. DOT is one specific federally defined test for federally regulated workers. Everything else is non-DOT — governed by employer policy and state law, with the flexibility to fit any workforce.
DOT (federally regulated)
For CDL drivers, pilots, rail/transit operators, mariners, pipeline workers. Fixed 5-panel, urine only, Federal CCF, MRO required, Clearinghouse reporting on positive or refusal. Same panel for all six FMCSA test reasons. 49 CFR Part 40.
Non-DOT (employer policy)
For corporate, school districts, healthcare, construction, retail — anyone outside DOT regulation. Flexible: any panel size (5/9/10/14+), any approved specimen, custom cutoffs, optional MRO. No Clearinghouse. State law governs notice and consent.
Carriers run both
DOT carriers often run non-DOT testing alongside the federal program — voluntary post-accident, supervisor's discretion, company-policy random — for situations where DOT isn't triggered but the carrier wants documentation. Same network, separate workflow, separate records.
Three specimens. Three detection windows.
Specimen choice changes what the test sees. DOT testing is urine-only by federal rule. Non-DOT employers pick the specimen that matches the use case — pre-employment look-back, reasonable-suspicion immediacy, or simple no-stick collection.
Urine — 1 to 30 days
The most common specimen and the only one approved for DOT testing. Detection window varies by substance: 1–3 days for most drugs, up to 30 days for chronic marijuana use. Federal CCF for DOT; custom CCF for non-DOT.
Hair — up to 90 days
The longest detection window. Common for pre-employment when you want a 90-day look-back beyond what urine can show. Not approved for DOT. Cannot detect very recent use (last 7–10 days). Strands are cut at the scalp; no waste collection.
Oral fluid — 24 to 72 hours
Non-invasive saliva collection — useful for reasonable-suspicion or random testing where a fresh-use window matters more than a long look-back. HHS-approved for federal workplace testing as of 2023, but DOT has not yet adopted it for FMCSA use. Lab-based results, no MRO if neg.
Built for the network — used everywhere.
Our consortium roots are DOT carrier compliance, but the network is the network. Same 20,000+ sites, same labs, same MRO. Four common ways non-trucking organizations use us.
Motor carriers
Pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, follow-up. Federal 5-panel, MRO, Clearinghouse reporting. DOT drug testing →
Corporate & SMB
Pre-employment, post-incident, supervisor's discretion. Often 9- or 10-panel. Corporate screening →
Schools & healthcare
Pre-employment + periodic. School districts, hospitals, clinics, in-home care. Custom panels for state-specific licensure boards. Hair testing common.
Construction & trades
Pre-employment, post-incident, random pool (carrier-style). Many federal contractors require a drug-free workplace policy with documentation. We build the policy + run the program.
Need a custom panel for a regulated industry (chemicals, hazmat, healthcare, financial services)? Tell us the requirement and we'll match it to the right panel + specimen + workflow.
How much does nationwide drug testing cost?
Member rates apply when the order is placed through your portal. Volume pricing is available for corporate and multi-site accounts — request a corporate quote. Specialty panels (industry-specific cutoffs, custom analyte lists) are quoted on request.
Member rates shown. Walk-in pricing through the same network typically runs 30–60% higher.
Related pages
- Motor carrier compliance hub — every FMCSA requirement under one roof
- DOT drug testing overview — federally regulated 5-panel, all six test reasons
- Pre-employment screening — corporate / non-DOT screening for HR teams
- DOT random testing program — managed random pool for CDL operators
- Post-accident drug testing — 24/7 dispatch + 49 CFR 382.303 decision survey
- Return-to-duty testing — directly observed RTD + follow-up program
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of drug testing does Vertical Identity offer?
DOT and non-DOT panels on urine, hair, or oral fluid. DOT 5-panel ($69) is the federally mandated test for CDL drivers and any other DOT-regulated worker (FAA, FRA, FTA, USCG, PHMSA). Non-DOT panels — 5, 9, 10, or 14 — are used by corporate employers, school districts, healthcare, construction, and any DOT carrier doing voluntary post-accident or company-policy testing beyond the DOT minimum.
What specimen types are available?
Urine (most common, the only specimen approved for DOT testing), hair (up to 90-day detection window — common for pre-employment when you want a longer look-back), and oral fluid (non-invasive, rapid result, useful for reasonable-suspicion or random testing). All three are available across our 20,000+ collection sites; specimen choice depends on the panel and the use case.
What is the difference between DOT and non-DOT drug testing?
DOT testing follows 49 CFR Part 40 — fixed 5-panel, urine specimen only, federal CCF, MRO review, Clearinghouse reporting. Non-DOT is governed by employer policy and state law — flexible panel size, any approved specimen type, no Clearinghouse reporting. Same labs, same MRO review on lab-based tests, same 20,000+ collection network. Most regulated industries (CDL drivers, pilots, train operators) need DOT; everyone else has the choice.
Is hair testing DOT-approved?
No. The Department of Transportation only recognizes urine specimens for DOT-regulated testing under 49 CFR Part 40. HHS approved oral fluid for federal workplace testing in 2023, and DOT has been working through rulemaking to follow — but as of today, urine remains the only DOT-acceptable specimen for any of the six FMCSA test reasons (pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, follow-up).
Can a 10-panel test be used in place of a DOT 5-panel?
No. The DOT 5-panel is a specific federally defined test — same panel, same cutoffs, same SAMHSA-certified lab, same Federal CCF, same MRO. A 10-panel may include the same five DOT substances but it is governed by Part 40 only for the DOT-regulated panel; the additional five substances are non-DOT. If you want a 10-panel for a CDL driver, the DOT 5-panel must be ordered as a separate test on the federal CCF — it cannot be combined.
How fast can we get results?
Instant point-of-care (POC) tests give a preliminary read in 5–10 minutes — useful for non-DOT pre-employment or company-policy testing, but a non-negative POC must always be confirmed by lab analysis before any employment decision. Lab-based results return in 24–72 hours after the driver tests. DOT testing is always lab-based, never POC.
One network. Every panel. All 50 states.
Members order DOT or non-DOT testing through one portal. Corporate and multi-site accounts get volume pricing. Not a member yet? Pick the path that fits.