Step 1:  Call us or schedule now on this site:

Remember- we have locations both North and South of Austin. Choose your location during the scheduling process.

 

Step 2:  The Clearinghouse

The FMCSA Clearinghouse is a national computerized database.  Starting in 2020, all violations must be recorded in the Clearinghouse.  A violation will remain in the Clearinghouse for at least 5 years, or until the driver has completed the SAP’s follow-up testing plan, whichever is later. 

 

All FMCSA employers are required to check an applicant’s record in the Clearinghouse.  An employer cannot hire a driver/applicant until a SAP indicates that the driver has successfully complied with the SAP’s treatment recommendation. 

 

Use this link to register for the Clearinhouse if you have not done so yet.

https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/.  

 

Step 3: The Assessment
Before you can return to a DOT safety-sensitive position, you must successfully complete a return-to-duty process.

A Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) will have to:
•    Conduct a thorough face-to-face assessment
•    Recommend a required plan of treatment and/or education
•    Send a report to your employer about that recommendation
•    Monitor your progress through that plan
•   Conduct a face-to-face follow-up evaluation, to verify that you completed the recommendation and that it was successful

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The assessment will take about an hour and the SAP will ask questions to determine recommendations for treatment, follow-up testing and your ability to return to your DOT-regulated position. The SAP then sends a report to your employer about the recommendations. At this time, you will be expected to follow the SAP's recommendations and schedule a follow up appointment with your SAP for the expected time of completion.

 

Step 4: After the substance abuse evaluation?

•    Conduct a clinical follow-up evaluation to determine if you have complied with the recommendations
•    Send a report of compliance to your employer

 

If the SAP determines the treatment was successful, the SAP will send a report of compliance to your employer. Your employer (or a future employer) can then order a return-to-duty test, which must be negative.  (The specimen collection will be observed). If your return-to-duty test is positive, you will have a new violation.  You will be required to start over with another assessment, and another recommendation for treatment which can only be done with your original SAP.

 

If the SAP determines that you didn’t cooperate with the treatment plan, or that you didn’t participate appropriately, the SAP will send a report of non-compliance to your employer, and you will have to continue with the program.

Upon successful completion of the SAP's recommendations, your employer then decides if they want to offer you a return-to-duty test. Depending on the company’s written policy, they may decide to terminate you, either before or after the return-to-duty test. DOT drug testing is designed to identify safety risks. In the eyes of your employer, you may still pose a risk.

If your employer decides to take you back, and if you have a negative return-to-duty DOT drug screen, you will be subject to follow-up testing as required by your SAP. There must be at least six unannounced follow-up tests in the first year. However, your SAP can require any number of tests, and the testing period can last up to five years.

 

Step 5: Return-to-Duty