Substance Abuse Testing Program
Renewals Mailed Out in October

Customer Service is Key to C-DATA’s Success

General
As C-DATA enters into our 11th year of service, we reflect back on the past and can’t help but feel gratification with the direction and accomplishments we have achieved. Not only have we offered quality, comprehensive, cost efficient drug and alcohol testing services, we’ve also taken it a step further with our pro-active commitment towards industry focused regulatory and legislative accomplishments. Without a doubt, our social welfare efforts have always been in the best interests of our clients, the commercial transportation industry and motoring public.

History
C-DATA is a non-profit organization focused on providing transportation companies and
owner-operators with third party assistance relating to regulatory substance abuse testing compliance.

C-DATA utilizes purchasing economies, program designs, regulatory knowledge and management skills to facilitate this service. C-DATA is owned and operated by the California Dump Truck Owners Assoc. According to the IRS, C-DATA is an organization formed to advise, counsel, and assist individuals (owner-operators) and transportation companies to comply with regulatory controlled substance abuse testing by offering contracted and bundled services from drug testing labs and collection sites along with educational materials and program templates affecting an orderly program and is entitled to exemption from federal income tax as a social welfare organization described in IRC 501(c)(4).

The objective and activities of the organization contribute to the betterment of the community as a whole and are therefore regarded as promoting social welfare.

Originally, in the latter part of 1995, with reasonable foresight and prior to the 1996 implementation of the Federal Department of Transportation/FMSCA, primarily regulations in 49 CFR Parts 40 & 382, controlled substance abuse and alcohol testing, CDTOA’s Board approved the funding to create the California Drug and Alcohol Testing Alliance as an added benefit for its members. In 1997, the CDTOA Board than approved industry-wide marketing of this service. Since then, C-DATA (CalDATA, now referred to as C-DATA) has grown and the CDTOA membership now represents only about 20% of the 11,000 owner-operators and drivers currently in our managed pools. Ten years ago, the intrastate trucking industry had no idea what to expect and had little understanding of the programs compliance difficulties.

It has been an interesting evolution over the years; we have seen it all in this ever-changing industry, from various regulatory interpretations, vague guidance, conflicting clarifications, underground regulations, inconsistencies in enforcement to actual changes in the regulations. Through all this C-DATA has remained a committed partner to the commercial transportation industry!

(Back L to R): Accountant; Dianna Lee, C.S. Specialist (Español); Martha Ayala, C.S. Manager (Español); Sandra Medina, C.S. Specialist/New Accounts (Español); Diana Castañeda, (Front L to R): Senior C.S. Specialist; Lisa Heaps, Operations Director; Lonnie Johnson, C.S.S/Collection Site Coordinator; Cameo Curtis.

Staff Training
Along with the continued increase in market share, C-DATA’s staff has grown to provide its member/clients with an unsurpassed commitment to service. C-DATA’s entire staff is educated and knowledgeable concerning DOT Regulations, PUC Resolution and Drug Free Workplace requirements for non-mandated employees. We are an organization committed to continued education and training - this year management and our outside membership services directors were Drug & Alcohol Program Management certified by DATIA (Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association). In July, all ten staff members, including our Northern and Southern Membership Service Directors were certified as drug screen collectors. Five staff members were also certified EBT (Evidential Breath Alcohol Technicians), and successfully completed DATIA’s Certified Breath Alcohol Technician exams. Everyone on our staff is now equipped to perform onsite drug collections and has gained important first hand knowledge of the collection process which has been invaluable when they deal directly with collection sites.

Drug Free
Workplace Programs
C-DATA has experienced rapid growth in the non-mandated or Drug Free testing business. This program is designed not only for employers wanting their Class B drivers to be randomly drug and alcohol tested, but many companies requiring all types of employees and supervisors tested. The overall benefit of drug testing saves employers directly on their health, liability and workers’ comp insurance premiums.

Many private and public contracts actually require contracting companies to have in-place a pre-employment and random drug program. It’s a fact; drug testing has positive effects on employee’s moral, safety and absenteeism. Since this program is non-mandated, it relays on the guidelines companies provide within their company policy. If you would like to know more about our Drug Free Program or information concerning creating a drug free program contact us at (800) 820-9314.

Onsite and Mobile Testing
Many of the larger fleets have requested on-site or mobile unit testing. C-DATA has been making every reasonable effort to accommodate those interested companies. We are presently negotiating with a quality mobile collection business in Northern California. We may soon be able to offer companies (even owner-operators) in and around Sacramento, Redding, Stockton the Bay Areas and eventually the South-Central Valley area with mobile testing. In Southern California, (San Diego to Bakersfield) we have the personnel and resources to perform on-site collections as long as your facilities are set up properly for these types of collections.

Latino Commercial Drivers
Surveys indicate that Latino commercial drivers now make up the larger majority of truck drivers in California, varying publications estimate between 50%-65% of all current California commercial drivers are of Latino heritage. C-DATA has been pro-active in our efforts to accommodate our Latino clients; currently one-half of our staff is bi-literate (meaning they can read, write and speak) in Spanish/English. Many of our forms and driver handbooks are available in Spanish and we have expanded our efforts to eventually offer additional training materials printed in Spanish.

C-DATA will be an exhibitor at the Truck Show Latino October 13 - 15, 2005 at the Fairplex in Pomona, stop by and visit us at booth (449).

Renewal Updates
By the time you read this you should have already received your 2006 renewal. In November 2004, C-DATA was overly surprised with a 74% increase in our collection and lab testing fees. By opting to add staff personnel and manage all of our 450+ collection sites in-house, we were able to reduce the increase to 34%, which on any scale is still a substantial amount. The good news is, we have made every conceivable effort to keep the renewal and testing fees increase to a minimal $5. By the time we were notified of the increase, the 2005 renewals had already been sent to our clients, so we had decided to honor the initial fees. So for the clients that had renewed in a timely manner, they were not affected by the 2005 increase. The increase for all other testing fees went into effect on January 1, 2005, so you will not feel the additional effects of these higher fees in 2006. Now the not-so-bad news, we would like to focus your attention on the “new” C-DATA Consortium Agreement within your renewal documents. It is imperative that the agreement is returned completed and signed. Any incomplete agreements will be returned delaying your renewal and therefore your enrollment and jeopardizes your compliance. Every client is required to have the agreement on file or they will not be able to renew or enroll in C-DATA’s programs.

Our Commitment to Service
In an effort to keep up with our growth and maintain our service standards, C-DATA now has seven full-time employees. Plus, we added two additional phone lines to our facility, all of which will ring through our toll free number at (800) 820-9314 or you can always contact us by email cs@c-data.com.

Each of our clients is assigned to a Customer Service Specialist (CSS) which is familiar with your account. We are here to provide you with quality customer service and to assist you with your compliance issues.

All to often by the time we receive a call on what would have been a simple solution becomes a nightmare. Unresolved issues have a tendency to escalate into major problems, many times resulting in the cancellation of a drug or alcohol test or an unsatisfactory BIT/Carrier Inspection. We strongly suggest that you be pro-active and utilize your CSS when you have any questions or concerns, don’t wait until the last minute, none of us need the additional stress. As our logo states, C-DATA - “The Key to Your Compliance” - let us help you comply, call us if you have any questions.

All of the staff at C-DATA enjoyed meeting and visiting with everyone at the Annual Board Meeting, Friday Night CDTOA Membership & Affiliate Reception and the International Truck Show, for those that did not make the events you truly missed out on a great time!

Lonnie Johnson
C-DATA Operations Director