Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

D.D.T.A. Services, Inc. is a service provider and T.P.A. (Third Party Administrator) that is addressed to assist small and large motor carriers and independent owner-operators to comply with the order of December 21, 1990 (all motor carriers) and with pre-employment, random, post-accident, return to duty and follow-up drug screenings, as well as alcohol screenings for Final Rules January 1, 1996 (all Motor Carriers).

Our professional, experienced staff, is here to help companies implement their drug and alcohol testing programs and to advise on the record-keeping and updates in this area to help these companies stay in compliance with the drug and alcohol testing regulations. The majority of our information comes directly from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to keep us current on the changes and interpretations occurring in the drug and alcohol testing regulations.

We have a nationwide collection site network, and contract with three H.H.S. (Health and Human Services) certified labs. These labs are Advanced Toxicology Network Labs; Quest Diagnostics Labs; and Med-Tox Labs. We also contract with highly qualified M.R.O's (Medical Review Officer) to provide professional M.R.O. service and reporting.

D.D.T.A. Services, Inc. has also combined its efforts and knowledge with many professional and dedicated associates, who together have assisted many state and federally required transportation modes conform with the regulations. This is so there will be no fines and/or penalties levied against them for non-compliance in record-keeping or the administering of their drug and alcohol testing programs.

There are five types of drug testing required under DOT regulations:

I. Pre-Employment Drug Testing--- A pre-employment drug test must be performed on every newly hired employee, or any employee already working within a company, before they can perform any safety sensitive functions.

II. Post-Accident Drug Testing--- A post-accident drug test must be performed following an accident where: (1) A life was lost (2) A driver is cited for a moving traffic violation AND the accident resulted in someone being injured and requiring treatment away from the scene of the accident (3) A driver is cited for a moving traffic violation AND one or more vehicles has to be towed from the scene of the accident.

III. Random Drug Testing--- A certain percentage of employees who work in safety sensitive positions, or if a company has implemented a drug free workplace program, must submit to unannounced, random drug tests every year. Selections for random drug tests are pulled over four quarters during the year.

IV. Reasonable Suspicion Drug Testing--- If an employer has reason to believe that an employee's behavior or appearance may indicate drug or alcohol use, then the employer may have a reasonable cause drug test performed on that employee.

V. Return to Duty and Follow Up Drug Testing--- An employee who has tested positive for drugs and/or alcohol, or who refused to be tested, must first submit to a Return to Duty drug test before returning to any safety sensitive positions. There are also referral, evaluation and treatment requirements that must be met.

Follow Up Drug Testing is required when a substance abuse professional (SAP) has determined an employee needs help overcoming drug or alcohol problems. Federal regulations require six tests during the first year back in a safety sensitive position, although Follow Up Testing can continue for up to five years.