Author: Administrator

You want to know as much about your employees as possible, even before you hire them. This way you can make the most informed decision and create a team that’s suited to carry out your mission. Hiring the right team means limiting injuries, damages, and accidents, and helping people make the most of themselves. Continue reading and see why pre-employment drug screening is necessary.

Building the Right Team
You need to know who you’re bringing on board, which is why background checks and drug tests are standard procedures for the hiring process in many cases. Pre-employment drug screening helps you hand-pick exactly the people you want to represent your brand and carry your business forward. Bringing someone with a drug problem onto the team can be bad for your business, your team morale, and the employees that you hire.

Avoiding Accidents
A drug-free workplace stands to be more productive and efficient, which is crucial if you want to stay ahead of the competition. No matter what kind of business you run, chances are someone else runs a similar business, so make sure your team is in top shape to attract and keep your customers. Pre-employment drug screening makes it easier to do this. Accidents set you back, damage inventory, and can sideline employees due to injury, so do your best to avoid them.

Helping People
Addiction is a disease, and it’s a difficult one to deal with. Pre-employment drug screening makes it clear that your business won’t tolerate drugs, which can motivate drug users to try to kick the habit, so they can be employed at your company.

If you’re looking for qualified professionals to help you craft the best team possible, contact HDS Safety Services. Our drug screening services can help you identify the best candidates for the job. Give us a call at (520) 622-0419 or look through our website.

Accusing someone of having a problem is tricky, as you should be respectful of the other person’s feelings. Some people get defensive when others intervene in their lives, which makes the process even more uncomfortable. Reasonable suspicion testing aims to address certain kinds of problems in the workplace, so read on and find out what it is.

Noticing a Problem

A drug addict probably won’t come out and tell you about the problem, so employers should look out for warning signs that might indicate addictive behavior. If you suspect that one of your employees is using illegal drugs or abusing prescription drugs, don’t hesitate to take action. Drug abuse and illegal drug use can both cause substantial problems that affect the user as well as everyone around him or her. Reasonable suspicion testing gives you the opportunity to find out for sure if one of your workers might be into something unhealthy.

Protecting the Team

Your operation relies on the entire team, so everyone needs to contribute. There are situations where one person weighs the rest of the group down, and sometimes this is due to drug use. You can use reasonable suspicion testing to administer drug tests to anyone who seems like they might have a substance abuse problem that impacts the team. Identifying and dealing with the problem may make the rest of the group more comfortable in the workplace.

Helping the Employee

A drug problem impacts the business, the team, and the individual who is struggling with addiction. Thanks to reasonable suspicion testing, you can acknowledge the problem and talk to the person who is suffering. This kind of caring attention can make a world of difference, and it can even save lives.

You can always count on HDS Safety Services to make your workplace safer, healthier, and more productive. Our areas of expertise include drug testing and compliance consulting. Visit our website, or call our offices at (520) 622-0419 if you have any questions.

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When you work in an industry that must follow Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines, it’s important to make sure all of your employees are up to the same standards. HDS Safety Services can help you accomplish this goal with our safety and compliance solutions:

Drug and Alcohol Testing
To stay up-to-date with DOT standards regarding drug and alcohol testing, employers must administer tests before hiring people, after accidents, when there is reasonable suspicion, and at random. HDS Safety Services can help you make sure you administer all the necessary drug and alcohol testing.

Training
If you’re looking for compliance and safety training services for your employees, HDS Safety Services can help. We offer many different training courses that can help both drivers and supervisors stay safe and follow essential guidelines. Some of our courses include driver training and education, maintenance and inspection training, and supervisor reasonable suspicion training.

Auditing Services
HDS Safety Services also offers compliance auditing services to help companies ensure that their safety standards and practices are following state and federal regulations. Items that we can review for your company include insurance, driver qualification files, vehicle maintenance and inspection, time records and all supporting documents, accident files, driver logs and all supporting documents, and drug and alcohol programs.

Driver Qualification
If you don’t want to worry about creating and maintaining driver qualification files, you can let HDS Safety Services handle those responsibilities for you. We can make and maintain drive qualification files and provide audits regularly.

You can learn more about these services by contacting the team at HDS Safety Services today. Give us a call at (520) 622-0419 to hear more about our safety services that can help you comply with all the local and federal laws your business needs to run smoothly and successfully.

Safety training is a critical part of complying with Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations and keeping your team on the road. At HDS Safety Services, we offer a number of different training courses for drivers and supervisors that can be tailored to the specific needs of your business. These courses can be taught in person or online. Here is a closer look at some of the safety training courses we offer.

Compliance Training

DOT compliance regulations are complicated, but even a minor error can lead to significant fines and can take your fleet off the road for an extended period of time. In our compliance training course, our team will teach your compliance staff how to build an effective safety program for your business and how to manage safe working conditions on an ongoing basis. The course also covers DOT compliance rules, so that your team understands the guidelines.

Maintenance and Inspection Training

Your drivers are on the frontline of safety compliance, and proper vehicle inspections and maintenance are part of the process of staying safe on the road. During this course, our team teaches your drivers to inspect their vehicles and perform basic maintenance tasks. This course is taught using your drivers’ own vehicles, so they get to see exactly how the process should be conducted on the vehicles they will take on the road.

Supervisor Reasonable Suspicion Training

Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing is an important part of maintaining a high level of safety in your business. During this course, we teach your supervisors how to spot signs of alcohol and drug abuse and how to conduct reasonable suspicion testing in accordance with DOT guidelines. Anyone who takes this course will receive a Supervisor Reasonable Suspicion certification from the DOT.

If you’re interested in providing safety training classes in Tucson to your team, call HDS Safety Services today. Dial (520) 622-0419 to learn more or to register for a course.  

In order to help ensure safety in the trucking industry, motor carriers are required to conduct background checks for drivers. These include determining if the driver has had any previous violations related to the Department of Transportation (DOT) drug and alcohol regulations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created a Clearinghouse system to improve the tracking of such violations. Employers must report all violations to this system, and other motor carriers can submit an inquiry to get information about an applicant’s history.

Previously, employers have had to submit pre-employment queries to the Clearinghouse and conduct manual inquiries. Starting January 6, 2023, employers will cease manual inquiries and will only need to conduct a Clearinghouse query.

What Is The FMCSA Clearinghouse?

The FMCSA Clearinghouse is a centralized reporting system for drug and alcohol violations by safety-sensitive workers within the trucking industry, e.g. commercial driver’s license (CDL) drivers. Employers and their designated safety representatives need to report any violations to this system. This makes it easier to track violations and ensure the return-to-duty process is being followed, even if a driver moves states. The system was created to prevent drivers from circumventing background check procedures.

Why Is This Update Happening Now?

Motor carriers are required to conduct background checks that cover the past three years. Since use of the FMCSA Clearinghouse became mandatory on January 6, 2020, there wasn’t enough data available to cover the full-time period. Now, the information in the Clearinghouse will meet the three-year time frame.

Pre-Employment Check Requirements

While the method for conducting a pre-employment background check is changing, the underlying regulations are consistent.

Employers must:

  • Conduct a three-year query when hiring a new driver
  • Conduct a new query annually, on a rolling 12-month basis, for each driver they employ
  • Obtain consent from employees and potential hires before conducting Clearinghouse queries

What About Non-FMCSA Transportation Employees?

The Clearinghouse system only has information about drivers who work for FMCSA-regulated employers, such as motor carriers. Other types of transportation jobs fall under other DOT agencies, such as railroad, aviation, or transit. If a driver applies to a motor carrier and has worked for such a company in the past three years, motor carriers still need to request drug and alcohol violation information. They will need to conduct a manual inquiry to do so since this information is not in the Clearinghouse.

Keep Up With FMCSA Regulations

FMCSA regulations and best practices periodically change, and it’s important for your company to stay up-to-date to avoid large fines and potential safety issues. HDS Safety Services can make it easier for you to stay compliant. We keep up with the latest changes to regulations and manage your background checks, driver qualification files, and other key documentation and safety protocols so you don’t have to.

Contact us today to learn more about our FMCSA compliance services.

Drug and alcohol testing facilities are required to follow very strict protocols to ensure compliance with regulations. The DOT-compliant urine collection protocols were designed to prevent samples from being tampered with or otherwise compromised. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the urine collection protocols.

Site Integrity

Before each testing appointment, the collector must inspect the collection site to ensure there are no opportunities for the employee to tamper with the sample. Collectors will:

  • Ensure there is a coloring agent in the toilet and tank.
  • Temporarily prevent the functioning of water faucets.
  • Remove all possible adulterants from the location, including soap and cleaning agents.
  • Inspect or secure any items that could be used to conceal adulterants, including paper towel holders and under-sink areas.

Employee Arrival

As soon as the employee arrives for testing, he or she must begin the testing procedures. Collectors do not delay testing if an employee states that he or she isn’t ready or is unable to urinate, since this provides the opportunity for tampering. The collector verifies the employee’s identification information and explains the collection procedures. Then, the collector must ask the employee to remove all outer clothing, including jackets and hats, and place these items along with other personal belongings (bags, briefcases, etc.) in a secured location. The employee has the right to request a receipt to retrieve personal belongings afterward.

Sample Collection

The collector does not need to remain in the collection room while the employee is providing the sample. However, the collector will remain nearby and will time the employee. If the employee takes too long or the collector has any reason to believe the employee is attempting to tamper with the sample, then the collector will immediately initiate a second collection using a new kit. The employee will be under direct observation of the collector when the second sample is provided.

HDS Safety Services provides a complete continuum of services for employers in the Tucson area, including DOT-compliant drug and alcohol testing, state and federal auditing, pre-employment screening, and compliance and safety training. Call (520) 622-0419 if you have any questions about your workplace safety program.

Without question, safety is the most important concern in the transportation industry. Accidents in the trucking industry have the potential to cause great damage and result in numerous fatalities, which is why the Department of Transportation (DOT) subjects motor carriers and other companies that perform safety-sensitive duties to rigorous compliance standards. Any company that is not 100% compliant with these regulations may receive hefty fines or be issued an Out of Service order, which essentially means being shut down by the DOT. Fortunately, there are companies that can audit your safety and compliance program to make sure it’s up to par. Here are some of the top reasons to hire an auditing service:

Save Time and Money

Making sure that your safety and compliance program is aligned with DOT rules and regulations can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Depending on the number and scope of non-compliance issues, your company may be subject to heavy fines or even shut down by the DOT. Scheduling an audit is a small price to pay compared to what’s at stake if your company is found to be non-compliant.

Keep Drivers Safe

There’s a reason the DOT is strict about its safety and compliance standards: they help keep drivers safe. Time records, driver logs, vehicle maintenance reports, drug and alcohol testing, and hazmat procedures are just a few of the safety and compliance practices that the DOT has designed to prevent or lower the risk of accidents. By making sure your company is compliant with these measures, you will, in turn, make sure your drivers (and your business) are safe.

Get Expert Advice

Auditors will provide a full report of their findings which outlines non-compliance issues that were discovered along with recommendations on how to correct them. These recommendations will ultimately improve your safety and compliance program, which is a good thing for your workforce, your company, and for the greater public good.

HDS Safety & Compliance provides on-site audits that can help you avoid the headache of dealing with Federal and State inspectors. In addition to auditing your company’s entire safety and compliance program, we will also provide your drivers with a refresher log training class. HDS also provides nationwide DOT drug and alcohol testing services. To learn more, call us toll-free at (800) 800-7801 or contact us online.

Drug and alcohol testing programs ensure that the work environment you provide to employees is safe and healthy. Compliance with drug and alcohol regulations also protects the passengers and cargo carried by the transportation industry. If your workplace does not currently maintain a drug and alcohol testing program, keep reading to learn a few of the important steps you’ll need to take to establish a successful testing program.

Obtain the Correct Certification or Authorization

The transportation industry requires compliance with certification or authorization requirements prior to beginning and maintaining a program for employee drug and alcohol testing. These certifications are dependent upon the type of transportation certificate or operator’s license you currently hold, and typically include registration of your program with your overseeing regulatory body, such as the FAA, to ensure your program meets the requirements set forth in your industry for drug and alcohol compliance.

Notify and Train Employees

Supervisors and employees all play a vital role in a successful drug and alcohol testing and compliance program. Once you have registered your program, you will need to complete compliance training to ensure your employees understand the regulations to which they will be held and the testing process they will undergo. You may also wish to provide documentation outlining these regulations to new employees when they are hired.

Begin Drug and Alcohol Testing

Working with a third-party administrator can make drug and alcohol testing a smooth and simple process. Third-party administrators not only have the resources to handle large-scale testing with accurate results and follow-up opportunities but can also maintain your company’s training and test records safely and properly.
Are you ready to begin your own workplace drug and alcohol testing program? HDS Safety and Compliance have everything you need, from compliance and safety training for employees and supervisors to drug and alcohol testing services that include pre-employment screening, random screening, post-accident screening, and return-to-duty testing. We invite you to find out more about our services and solutions on our website or call (520) 622-0419 to discuss your needs today.

The trucking industry has strict regulations for drug and alcohol testing. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces these requirements. Motor carriers may be subject to steep fines and other penalties if they do not follow all the necessary rules for their drug and alcohol programs. Any drivers who fail or refuse a drug test must be immediately removed from safety-sensitive duties. It is important to understand what constitutes a drug test refusal in order to understand when these rules apply.

What Counts as a Drug Test Refusal?

There are a variety of actions that can fall under the umbrella of refusing a drug test. Different individuals or organizations may be responsible for determining whether a driver’s actions constituted a refusal. These include the employer, the Screening Test Technician (STT), the Designated Employer Representative (DER), and the Medical Review Officer (MRO).

Some of the actions that are part of FMCSA’s definition of drug test refusal include:

  • Not going to get a drug test when the employer requires it, including taking an unreasonably long amount of time to get to the testing center
  • Failing to provide enough urine for a sample (Note: there is a “shy bladder” procedure that testing sites must follow to give time to produce a sample)
  • Not allowing observation when observed urine collection is required
  • Leaving the site before testing is finished
  • Failing to follow all instructions during the collection, i.e. not emptying pockets
  • Tampering with urine collection or falsifying a sample

Pre-employment tests follow most of the same rules as other types of screening, with one exception.  If the applicant has not yet given a sample, they can say no to the test and the potential employer would not report this as refusal. The applicant would still not be able to begin safety-sensitive duties without a negative drug test. Once collection starts, any tampering or leaving the site early would constitute a refusal.

What Happens After a Driver Refuses a Drug Test?

Motor carriers must report any refusals to the FMCSA Clearinghouse and immediately remove the employee from safety-sensitive duties.

Trucking companies may have individual policies that require the termination of employment after a failed or refused test. The FMCSA does not require this, but it is permissible as long as this is clearly stated in your drug testing policy.

The motor carrier must provide a list of Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) to the driver. A SAP must oversee the return-to-duty process. This individual will determine when the driver can return to safety-sensitive duties and will make recommendations for follow-up testing.

Note that the motor carrier is not responsible for the return-to-duty process beyond providing a list of SAPs. If they choose to terminate the driver’s employment, it is up to the driver to ensure they complete evaluations with the SAP. Companies are responsible for checking the drug and alcohol test history of any applicants and will be able to see whether the driver has ever refused/failed a test and if they completed the return-to-duty process.

Implement a Drug Testing Program

At HDS Safety Services, we can help you stay compliant with FMCSA regulations and operate one of the largest drug testing consortiums in Arizona. We can manage your testing program and also offer electronic logging device (ELD) audits, training, and other compliance services.

To learn more about HDS Safety Services, contact us today.

Drug testing is an important component of Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance. This is true for large and small motor carriers alike and even companies with one driver must follow these regulations. Owner-operator drug test requirements are fairly similar to other types of drivers, but there are some unique considerations to keep in mind.

Industry-Wide Drug Testing Requirements

The DOT and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) outline the times when commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators must be tested for drug use. These are the same for owner-operators and company drivers alike.

Someone who operates a CMV must be tested under the following circumstances:

  • Pre-Employment: Before beginning safety-sensitive duties, a driver must pass a drug test. For owner-operators, the pre-employment requirement must be completed after getting a United States DOT (USDOT) number and before driving a CMV.
  • Random Testing: All commercial drivers must be part of a random testing pool. The FMCSA sets testing rates for these pools each year based on the rate of violations. The process for random testing is different for self-employed drivers, and we will discuss this in detail later in this article.
  • Post-Accident: If an accident results in a fatality and/or involves a citation, post-accident drug testing is required.
  • Reasonable Suspicion: For company drivers, the reasonable suspicion requirement applies if a trained supervisor notices signs of drug use. Owner-operators are still subject to the reasonable suspicion requirement, but the process does look different since there is not a supervisor.
  • Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up Testing: If a self-employed driver has a positive drug test result, they must complete the return-to-duty process.

Differences for Owner-Operators

Registering and Querying in the FMCSA Clearinghouse

The FMCSA Clearinghouse is a system that tracks drug and alcohol program violations. Unlike company drivers, owner-operators are required to register as employers, even if they only employ themselves. These individuals also have to perform annual queries for themselves, in addition to meeting all other requirements for both motor carriers and drivers.

Drug Testing Consortium Requirement

A consortium/third-party administrator (C/TPA) is an association that combines the testing pools of several motor carriers for the purpose of random selection. Since an owner-operator cannot randomly select themselves, self-employed drivers are required to appoint a C/TPA to meet FMCSA requirements.

Reasonable Suspicion

The FMCSA requires supervisors to complete reasonable suspicion training and to drug test employees who are displaying signs of drug use. If an owner-operator does not have any employees besides themselves, this requirement would not make sense. As a result, owner-operators do not have to undergo this training unless they employ other drivers. However, this does not mean owner-operators are completely exempt from this type of testing. For larger motor carriers, C/TPAs are not permitted to order reasonable suspicion testing, but they can do so for owner-operators. This must be based on physical observation so it is rarer compared to other types of owner-operator drug testing, but it is still a possibility.

Compliance Services for Owner-Operators

HDS Safety Services can help you stay compliant with DOT regulations whether you manage a large fleet or are self-employed. For owner-operators, we can handle all aspects of your drug testing and safety program so you can focus on driving.

To learn more about our drug testing consortium, contact us today.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) oversees the regulation of trucking companies. They set rules that motor carriers must follow and failing to stay compliant can have serious consequences. Some of these situations affect individual drivers or vehicles and others affect the company as a whole. Depending on the DOT violation that occurred, your team will need to take swift action to address the issue.

Some possible DOT violations include:

Driver: Failed Drug Test

If a commercial driver refuses to take a drug test or the presence of a controlled substance is detected, they will need to cease safety-sensitive duties immediately. The violation must be reported to the Clearinghouse and the carrier will need to give the driver a list of substance abuse professionals (SAPs). In order to drive again, the driver will need to complete treatment and undergo return-to-duty testing. Follow-up testing is also required, and the frequency of this will depend on the SAP’s recommendations.

Driver: Exceeding Hours of Service

Law enforcement may issue a citation for any commercial driver exceeding hours of service (HOS) limits. After this type of violation, the driver will be required to stop driving until they are back in compliance. There is usually a fine for the citation depending on local laws and DOT fines for the driver and/or carrier may also be assessed. A pattern of HOS violations will impact a carrier’s compliance, safety, and accountability (CSA) score.

Vehicle: DOT Inspection Violations

During a roadside truck inspection, a DOT official may find a variety of different issues with a semi-truck. What happens after a violation is discovered depends on the nature of the problem. Some issues are recorded and must be repaired, but the truck can continue to be operated. However, other violations are considered more serious and the vehicle will be placed out of service.

Carrier: Conditional or Unsatisfactory DOT Audit

DOT audits check for a variety of different violations at a company-wide level. If any are found, your carrier could receive a conditional or unsatisfactory rating. For both of these, you will need to pay fines for any violations the inspector discovered and will need to submit a plan for how you will correct these.

Addressing DOT Violations

Preventing DOT violations in the first place is by far the most effective option. However, if you have received a violation, it’s important to address it quickly to avoid interruptions to your operation. The DOT will usually outline what steps you need to take from this point.

Stay Compliant with HDS Safety Services

We can help your trucking company avoid violations with training, drug and alcohol testing services, and more.

To learn how we can assist you in avoiding DOT violations, contact us today.