If you understand the importance of drug and alcohol testing, you might be interested in joining the Clean Fleet Consortium. This can help keep your employees mentally and physically healthy, which can then improve your productivity. It can also boost team morale and let people know that you care about keeping the roads safe. Read on to see how joining the Clean Fleet Consortium can benefit your business.

Keep Employees Healthy and Productive

Anyone who has gone into work while feeling under the weather understands how difficult it can be to focus on productivity while dealing with this type of distraction, and drug use and addiction can create these conditions every day. The Clean Fleet Consortium aims to issue random drug tests to ensure that all employees are conforming to the company’s drug and alcohol policies. Employees who remain sober will be better able to do their jobs, and they will be more comfortable and confident in their duties.

Boost Team Morale

Team morale can take a hit when drugs and alcohol infiltrate the workforce, which can lead to an overall reduction in productivity. When you join the Clean Fleet Consortium, you are making it clear that you care about the health of the team as well as each individual on it. This can motivate your employees to stay away from drugs, respect each other, and offer their best effort each day.

Show Your Concern for Wellbeing

By joining the Clean Fleet Consortium, you show the public that your business and brand cares about individual wellbeing. Making a move towards a workplace and workforce free of drugs and alcohol makes for a noble step that your customers and business partners may respect and appreciate.

Would you like to learn more about joining the Clean Fleet Consortium? Call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419 or visit our website. We are happy to help your team and business stay healthy and productive through alcohol and drug testing.

Driving for a living can be wonderfully fulfilling, but it can be dangerous if it’s not done right. Individual maintenance and inspection training can keep your drivers safe and efficient on the road, which improves your operation. Read ahead to see why your drivers need individual maintenance and inspection training.

Specific Vehicle Training

Depending on the nature of your company and the work that you do, your drivers might not all be operating the same types of vehicles. One of the primary benefits of individual training is that each employee gets to be trained on the specific vehicle that he or she will be working on. Additionally, each driver can use his or her own vehicle to undergo the training process, which can make it easier to tell how to perform the proper maintenance.

Proper Inspections

Every driver should know how to inspect a vehicle before taking to the road; in addition to keeping your operation on schedule, this also helps the driver – as well as others on the road – stay safe throughout the journey. Drivers who are capable of performing quality inspections will be able to identify any problem signs before getting on the road, which can only help your business and your fleet. This can also boost your drivers’ confidence, which can in turn elevate their performance.

DPS/DOT Expectations

The DPS and DOT exist so that drivers and pedestrians can be as safe as possible when they are out in public. In order for your drivers to comply with DPS and DOT expectations, they have to understand them. Individual maintenance and inspection training is a great way to teach your drivers how to conform to the guidelines that these entities have set.

If you’d like to give your drivers quality individual maintenance and inspection training, call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419. Our team trains your drivers on their own vehicles and teaches them how to perform proper inspections. Visit our website to learn more about our services.

Driving your regular car might feel like second nature after years of going through the same motions, but it’s important to stay sharp when you drive a commercial vehicle for a living. Training courses can help your drivers stay in top shape, even after taking some time off. Keep reading for a look at some online training courses.

Alcohol & Drug Testing: Driver Awareness Training

Many workplaces are ravaged by alcohol and drugs, but commercial drivers who use these substances put themselves and other drivers on the road in danger. The roads will never be as safe as possible if any driver is using drugs or alcohol, but the proper training can help employers identify problem behaviors and drivers recognize suspicious behaviors on the road. Alcohol and drug testing can be effective tools, and online training courses can make for a great starting point.

CDL Knowledge Test Review

If you hope to enjoy a career in the commercial driving industry, you’ll need to start by earning your commercial driver’s license. The CDL test involves knowledge and practical tests, and you should have your skills sharp for both portions. A CDL knowledge online course can help you refresh your knowledge so you can pass your knowledge test and get your truck driving career started.

CMV Driver Basics Training Program

If you have just decided that you want to be a commercial truck driver and are looking to learn the basics, the CMV Driver Basics Training Program will be a great online training course for you. The CDL test has both written and practical components, but it always helps to start out with the basics.

At HDS Safety Services, we are happy to help your drivers stay up to date and on top of their game. We can offer compliance and safety training as well as alcohol and drug testing. Give us a call at (520) 622-0419 or visit our website for more details.

Employee and workplace safety are extremely important matters that require compliance not only to avoid fines and damage to your company’s reputation, but also to protect the health and wellbeing of your workers and the general public. While your company may have developed stringent safety regulations that are followed at all times, you are still subject to state and federal safety compliance standards as well.  Utilizing national compliance supplies ensures that your company has all the tools necessary to maintain the high level of safety required by organizations such as the Department of Transportation and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Accurate Information

Federal standards for workplace safety compliance can be complex, lengthy, and ever-changing. Updates and alterations are frequently made to national compliance regulations, which means that simply relying on yourself or your employees to remember all the standards and regulations to which you are held is impossible. Obtaining and using national compliance supplies is one of the best ways for your business to ensure you have the most recent, accurate, and complete safety regulation information to avoid unintentional violations of any kind.

Easy Access

The right tools can do little good when they aren’t accessible. Maintaining copies of the current national compliance regulations in a place where you and your employees can reach them allows you to easily and quickly monitor or test your current compliance. When you have a complete list of the current national regulations on hand, you and your employees will find it easier to double-check your current practices against the national standards and make changes as needed to maintain compliance for improved workplace safety.

HDS Safety and Compliance has the information and products you need to ensure you remain compliant with all safety regulations in your industry. We carry a comprehensive selection of DOT compliance materials in Tucson to provide you with fast, easy access to the information you need. Please stop by our website or call us today at (520) 622-0419 to learn more about safety compliance training and tools.

The last thing you want for your company is a liability on the road; this puts people in danger and tarnishes your reputation. You can prevent problems through DOT compliance consulting, but what does that mean? Read ahead to find out what you need to know.

What Is DOT Compliance Consulting?

When it is your job to be on the road for long stretches of time, you need to be in complete control of your faculties at all times. This means that you don’t engage in any alcohol consumption or drug use while you’re on the road. As an employer, you will want to do your research and find only the most qualified candidates with the cleanest backgrounds and best records. A DOT compliance consulting service can do this research for you, leaving you with a team of qualified drivers.

What Services Does This Entail?

DOT compliance consulting does not necessarily refer to one particular service; instead, it is comprised of a few different tests and screens that may benefit both employer and employee. Your DOT compliance consulting firm may test employees for drugs and alcohol, run background tests, and even train your employees to do a better job on the road and in the workplace. The various services that DOT compliance consulting offers will allow the employer to learn about the most pertinent information for the company.

How Can a DOT Compliance Consulting Service Help?

Each of the services that DOT compliance consulting provides helps in a different way. Drug and alcohol testing keeps drivers and roads safe, while training helps employees improve their performance, and thus their comfort. Pre-employment screening allows employers to avoid liabilities and the time and money that go along with them.

If you still have questions about DOT compliance consulting, the team at HDS Safety and Compliance would be happy to answer them. You can reach us at (520) 622-0419 or visit our website to see how we can help with DOT compliance consulting, driver qualification, and compliance auditing services.

The best employers possess certain traits, such as business acumen and determination. However, it’s also important to understand the dynamics of your employees. If you are an employer, continue reading to find out what you should know about alcohol and drug testing.

Types of Testing

There are a few different ways to test a person for alcohol or drugs, and there are also different times to conduct them. You might want to test job applicants before you hire them to ensure that they are clean, or you might want to test them randomly to ensure that they remain sober throughout their employment. Testing may also be appropriate following on-the-job injuries or accidents.

What Testing Can Reveal

People typically think of alcohol and drug testing as a way to ensure that employees put out their best effort and contribute to a highly functioning workplace. However, testing goes deeper than this. An employee with a drug problem may be unable to perform to the best of his or her ability at work, but problems may exist outside the workplace as well. Alcohol and drug testing can alert employers to the issue so affected employees can get the help they need in order to live fulfilling lives.

How to Conduct Testing

Even with the hardest working and most determined team around, running a business has its challenges. If you want to increase your chances of success, any alcohol and drug testing of your employees should be done properly. Be sure to work with qualified alcohol and drug testing services so you can end up with reliable results that can be used to improve your business.

Alcohol and drug testing can help you run a safer, healthier, and more efficient workplace, so call HDS Safety and Compliance at (520) 622-0419 to make sure you do it right. We are also happy to offer DOT compliance consulting as well as safety training, so visit our website and learn more about us today.

As common as they are in today’s society, motor vehicles can still be quite dangerous. However, defensive driving can help you keep yourself and others safe while on the road; it can even make you more valuable to your company. Continue reading if you want to gain a better understanding of the importance of defensive driving.

Keeping Yourself Safe

Defensive driving teaches you how to drive in a way that keeps you out of danger and promotes safety on the road. This is especially important for people who tend to get nervous behind the wheel; nerves can make it difficult to make snap decisions, which can actually make driving even more dangerous. Once you have learned about defensive driving, however, you might find yourself much more comfortable on the road.

Refraining from Endangering Others

Not only does defensive driving help you keep yourself safe; it also prevents you from putting other drivers or pedestrians in danger. Other drivers are just as likely as you are to sustain an injury from a car crash that you are involved in, but defensive driving teaches you what you need to know to keep yourself out of these types of situations. The skills and knowledge you will learn through defensive driving classes can come in handy on the road, and they might even save a life.

Making Yourself an Asset

If you want to make yourself as appealing as possible to a potential employer, having a working knowledge of defensive driving can be helpful. When the hiring manager sees that you have taken steps to become a safer driver, he or she may move your resume towards the top of the pile.

For more on the importance of defensive driving, contact HDS Safety and Compliance or visit our website. It is our mission to offer compliance auditing services, alcohol and drug testing, and driver qualification services so you can have the utmost of faith in your workers. Feel free to give us a call at (520) 622-0419 to learn more about how we can help you.

Employee drug and alcohol testing plays an important role in the safety and efficiency of the transportation industry. As a transportation employer, it is vital to follow the standards set forth by the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the maintenance of these drug and alcohol testing records after the fact. Knowing which documents you are required to keep will ensure your drug and alcohol testing program remains compliant with these important industry regulations.

Record Maintenance Requirements

There are several records pertaining to your employee drug and alcohol testing program that you must keep. The records you are required to maintain include documents outlining the test administration process, as well as documents regarding employee and supervisor training. Furthermore, in addition to the test results, you must also keep records pertaining to the return-to-duty process administration. Negative drug test results and alcohol test results of less than 0.02 should be kept for one year; verified positive drug test results and alcohol test results over 0.02 must be kept for five years. Education and training documents should be kept indefinitely, up to a period of two years following the cessation of employment. Documentation outlining the drug testing process and administration should be kept for two years.

Record Storage Requirements

Employers have a duty to keep drug and alcohol testing records in a secure location with controlled access to protect employee privacy. This means that physical records should be kept in locked filing cabinets or containers, while electronic files must be password-protected. You may allow a third-party administrator to keep your records if you don’t wish to keep records onsite or manage these files yourself.
HDS Safety and Compliance are here to help you manage your employee drug and alcohol testing program; our services include compliance auditing, alcohol and drug testing, and training and refresher courses to keep your employees’ knowledge fresh and up to date. You can find out more about our drug and alcohol testing services and supplies when you click through our website, or by calling (520) 622-0419.

When you schedule drug testing for your employees, it is essential that you follow certain rules and protocols. Since drug testing is designed to ensure that your employees are following the law, you will want to make sure that they are not altering their results in any way. With the help of a company offering drug testing and compliance procedures, you can make sure your drug testing is in accordance with the law. Let’s take a closer look at some of the direct observation procedures that are used by the DOT.

Device Checks

One of the most important reasons for direct observation during the drug testing process is to make sure that employees are not carrying devices that carry clean urine. If an employee carries clean urine into his or her drug test, he or she will be in violation of the law. The role of the direct observer is to check the employee for any signs of a device.

Protocol If a Device is Found

The direct observer must follow a specific protocol if the employee is found with a device that contains clean urine. If a device is found, the drug test will be immediately halted. The collector must create a thorough documentation of all of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Protocol If a Device is Not Found

If a device is not found, there is also a protocol that must be followed. Once the direct observer has determined that the employee is not carrying a device, the drug test may proceed as planned. The employee must be observed when he or she is bringing the sample to the observer.

When you are in need of drug testing or other compliance services for your business, be sure to contact HDS Safety and Compliance. From employee drug testing to safety auditing and more, we offer a full range of services. Give our Tucson location a call at (520) 622-0419 to learn more about how we can assist you.

 

Recreational marijuana is a hot topic for employers across the country. With new recreational marijuana laws being passed in states around the nation, you may be wondering how these laws will affect the transportation industry. For those workers who operate commercial vehicles, the DOT has the same rules and regulations regarding recreational marijuana in effect. With the help of a company offering drug testing, you can make sure that your employees are following the law. Let’s take a closer look at the DOT and recreational marijuana.

Transportation Employees and State Marijuana Initiatives

Employees in the transportation sector must be fully alert and aware of their surroundings when they are behind the wheel of the vehicle. For this reason, the DOT has not changed its policies surrounding the use of recreational marijuana. If a driver is found to be intoxicated during his or her shift, he or she will be eligible for termination from employment.

The DOT and Drug Testing

Along with prohibiting the use of recreational drugs by commercial drivers, the DOT also mandates that all employees in the transportation sector receive random and routine drug screenings. These drug tests are designed to ensure that drivers are not under the influence of illegal drugs when they drive.

MROs and Drug Test Verification

An MRO, or Medical Review Officer, is responsible for reviewing the results of a drug test. In the event that marijuana shows up on an employee’s drug screening, the MRO will deem that the drug test has been failed. In order to make sure that they are able to pass their drug screenings, transportation workers must abstain from all illegal drug use.

When you are in need of employee drug screening in Tucson, be sure to contact HDS Safety and Compliance. Our highly rated drug testing company can provide you with drug testing services for all of your employees. To learn more about the services that we have to offer you, give us a call at (520) 622-0419.

Commercial truck drivers must follow strict safety standards that are implemented by the FMCSA and the DOT. These safety regulations are designed to make sure that every driver who steps behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is capable of driving safely and responsibly. Drug use is a serious threat to the safety of a commercial truck driver and everyone else on the road. A qualified drug testing and safety compliance company can help you make sure that your employees are following your drug and alcohol restrictions. Here is a closer look at some of the drugs that are prohibited for commercial drivers.

Amphetamines

Amphetamine use among truck drivers has been identified as a serious concern by the FMCSA. By providing stimulation to the brain and nervous system, amphetamines are abused by truck drivers who want to stay alert during longer drives or push through to their next delivery. Since amphetamine use has been linked to a rise in collisions, this class of drugs is illegal for truck drivers.

Narcotics

Narcotics are another type of controlled substances that are prohibited for truck drivers. The class of narcotic drugs includes opiates, such as prescription pain killers along with illegal street drugs like heroin. When a person has ingested narcotic drugs, he or she will not be able to drive safely or react to other drivers on the road. Unfortunately, narcotic drugs are highly addictive. With drug testing, an employer can determine whether a driver is an abuser of narcotic drugs so that he or she can get the necessary help needed to return to the road safely.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the final major type of drug that is prohibited for commercial truck drivers. Ingesting alcohol can affect decision making, slow reaction time, and is a leading cause of traffic accidents in the United States. Along with drug testing, an employer can also test drivers for alcohol abuse.

When you are in need of drug testing for your workplace, be sure to contact HDS Safety and Compliance. Our drug and alcohol testing program is among the largest in the State of Arizona, and we can also provide compliance and safety training to your employees. Call us at (800) 800-7801 to schedule drug testing with our experts today.

As the owner of a business in the Tucson area, it is important to hire employees that are well-qualified for each position. While checking credentials and references is an important part of the hiring process, you may want to also include drug testing for all of your candidates. By drug testing prospective workers, you will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are hiring responsible and law-abiding citizens who will be committed to your company. Read on for a look at the benefits of scheduling drug tests for prospective employees.

Attract Better Candidates

When you state on your employment application that all potential employees will be screened with a drug test, you will help to attract better candidates. Those applicants who have engaged in drug use in the recent past will be discouraged from applying to work at your company. Instead, you will market your business to motivated and responsible workers.

Encourage an Honest Working Environment

By drug testing prospective employees during the application process, you will help to encourage an honest environment among all of your workers. A pre-employment drug test will send the message that you will not tolerate drug use on the job. With this test in mind, your employees will be encouraged to be totally honest.

Improve Overall Productivity

Drug testing your prospective employees will also help to improve the overall productivity of your workplace. When you send the message that you do not tolerate drug use in your workers, you will make sure that all of your employees show up for their first day of work alert and ready to start off on the right foot.

To start a drug screening program for your company, be sure to contact HDS Safety. Our company offers highly rated drug screening services for customers throughout the Tucson area. Call us at 1-800-800-7801 to learn more about how our safety and compliance company can help your business.