- What about those people that do
not come under the DOT regs, like mechanics, helpers,
office personnel, dispatchers?
- Suppose an employee tests positive. Who
pays what?
- How many times will I be called?
- How far away are collection sites?
- What if I decide not to join any program?
- I am a broker with approximately 50 pullers
and sub-haulers. Do they all have to belong to AADT, and do I sign them up?
- What happens if AADT goes out of business?
- Will I be stopped on the road or scales?
- I am employed as a driver and also work under my own authority. Am I covered?
- Is it true that I can be tested anytime, even while off duty?
- Am I expected to lose money [load] when I can barely get by now?
- Do you really expect me to drop a load when I’m called?
- I think I see some “holes” in your program. What are you willing to do about it?
- Do drivers get tested every time they change jobs?
- Occasionally I [we] do pipeline work. Does AADT cover us there?
- Am I too late to enroll?
- Recently, the medical clinic that I use told me that if I test my drivers 4 times a year, that would be all I needed. Is this true?
- If I have a “casual” joint on Friday, how likely is it that I would be positive on a test the following Monday?
- I’ve heard that I cannot even have a bottle of glass cleaner in the cab. Is this true?
- Is Supervisor Training really required for compliance?
- Concerning verification, how often do we [broker, shipper, contractor] have to verify that a puller, owner/operator, or someone for-hire is in compliance?
- Why was I [we] not notified about these regs?
- If I am out of my normal working area, how do I know where to go for the test?
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Q. I
am a member of CDTOA, drive myself, and have 1 driver
(sometimes more). How does that work?
A. ALL CDLs in a safety sensitive position
(driving a commercial vehicle) in excess of 26,000
gross rated weight) must participate in a drug
and alcohol testing program effective 1/1/96.
Fees are simple - multiply the Service Fee times
the number of employees enrolled. We offer reduced
rates for certain groups and associations (see
the AADT Price List). Motor Carrier Employers
with more than 1 driver must also comply with
the DOT required substance abuse training for
a supervisor. AADT offers this training in the
form of a video complete with leader guides, a
quiz, and certification.
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Q. I am an independent owner/operator with
no employees. Do I have to retain DOT records?
A. Yes, some for 5 years just like an employer.
We will provide any DOT records to you upon request
within 48 hours.
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Q. Is there a different program for
employer’s vs. independent owner/operators?
A. No, the DOT rules are basically the same.
However, if you read the regs, it becomes obvious
that they were designed for larger companies.
AADT’s purpose is to help all participants
meet the DOT regulations.
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Q. What about those people that do
not come under the DOT regs, like mechanics, helpers,
office personnel, dispatchers?
A. AADT offers a similar pool called the Drug-Free
America Pool for those that do no fall under the
DOT mandate. Companies can belong to both pools.
(NOTE: There are situations where the entire company
must be drug-free in order to bid certain jobs.)
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Q. Suppose an employee tests positive. Who
pays what?
A. Once an employee goes “positive”,
that employee is responsible for any subsequent
tests. This includes the “second opinion”,
return-to-duty and follow-up tests.
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Q. How many times will I be called?
A. There is no specific answer. Each employee
has an equal chance - just like a lottery. You
may never be called or you may be called several
times in one year. Under our plan, you will never
be charged for any random test.
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Q. How far away are collection sites?
A. We guarantee no more than 20 miles in most
areas.
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Q. What if I decide not to join any program?
A. Eventually you will not be able to operate
a commercial vehicle in excess of 26,000 lbs.
in a safety sensitive position. It will be like
not having a CDL.
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Q. I am a broker with approximately 50 pullers
and sub-haulers. Do they all have to belong to
AADT, and do I sign them up?
A. Each Motor Carrier authority must make a decision
as to how to comply. Of course, it is much easier
for brokers, if all CDL’s belong to the same
group. Your responsibility is to verify that the
puller or sub-hauler is in compliance. As for
enrollment, each independent Motor Carrier authority
should enroll directly with us. CDTOA or other
affiliate members cannot include tag-on non-members
to get the same rate (that includes brokers).
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Q. What happens if AADT goes out of business?
A. Just like any other company, you would not
be covered. You must be confident in your supplier.
CDTOA’s membership assures AADT’s
financial stability and with 1000’s of members
our program should take care of itself.
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Q. Will I be stopped on the road or scales?
A Maybe, but you are definitely required to verify
compliance for any entity that hires your services.
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Q. I am employed as a driver and also work
under my own authority. Am I covered?
A. Enrollment is based on Motor Carrier Authorities.
If your employer has you enrolled in a service,
you are only covered when working for that company.
You must provide your own authority coverage.
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Q. Is it true that I can be tested anytime,
even while off duty?
A. YES for drugs — NO for alcohol. Drugs
remain in your system and affect your performance
much longer than alcohol. You can be called upon
for drug testing at any time. For alcohol, you
can only be asked to be tested 1 hour before duty,
while on duty, or 1 hour after duty.
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Q. Am I expected to lose money [load] when
I can barely get by now? I think that stinks!
A. You are in a responsible, professional and
safety sensitive position. Driver impairment not
only affects you but the general public. On an
average, you can expect 1-2 tests during the next
two years – this is one of the costs of doing
business... and it’s the law.
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Q. Do you really expect me to drop a load
when I’m called?
A. Employers can schedule when drivers must be
tested. Owner/Operators do not have that luxury.
Just remember that you are responsible for exactly
when you go for testing and must be responsible
for the results of your actions. We are a service
(and not the authority) that documents the day
and time you were tested as part of your records.
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Q. I think I see some “holes” in
your program. What are you willing to do about
it?
A. As we see it, the regs were designed for static
terminals — larger fleets. As we develop
the procedures, we are continually obtaining informal
approval from many experts — including DOT
officials. Everyone agrees that the regs have
holes in them. AADT will change our policies
if it is determined that we have not interpreted
the regs properly. Your comments and suggestions
are most certainly welcomed.
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Q. Do drivers get tested every time they change
jobs?
A. Effective 1/1/96, pre-employment testing is
required for any new driver. Drivers who are currently
employed need no tests. Drivers changing jobs
do not need to test, if they can show that their
former employer has tested them within the past
6 months.
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Q. Occasionally I [we] do pipeline work. Does
AADT cover us there?
A. No. Pipeline, like FAA, the railroad, etc.,
have a separate set of regulations that we do
not handle yet. We expect to add the other transportation-related
regs into our program.
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Q. Am I too late to enroll?
A. No. Although the deadline for the regulation
was 1/1/96, you can still enroll and be in compliance.
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Q. Recently, the medical clinic that I use
told me that if I test my drivers 4 times a year,
that would be all I needed. Is this true?
A. No. The requirement calls for random testing
throughout the year. That means that each time
drivers are selected from the pool, they are still
eligible the next time a drawing is done. Just
how many times a selection is made is up to the
service (or employer). The requirement is that
at least fifty percent of the drivers in the pool
must be tested for drugs during the year. Ten
percent must be tested for alcohol.
Top |
Q. If I have a “casual” joint on
Friday, how likely is it that I would be positive
on a test the following Monday?
A. About 100%.
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Q. I’ve heard that I cannot even have
a bottle of glass cleaner in the cab. Is this
true?
A. Yes, the “letter of the law” says
that you cannot have ANY alcohol (including products
containing alcohol) in the cab or anywhere in
the vehicle unless it is manifested.
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Q. Is Supervisor Training really required
for compliance?
A. Yes, employers (but not owner/operators) must
have Supervisor Training in order to be in compliance.
In other words, if you do not have a trained supervisor,
you are wasting your money joining AADT or any
other service - you are will not be in compliance.
To assist you, we offer a Supervisor Training
Video Kit. Please call us at 1-800-820-9314 if
you would like an order form.
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Q. Concerning verification, how often do we
[broker, shipper, contractor] have to verify that
a puller, owner/operator, or someone for-hire
is in compliance?
A. According to the regs, you must verify compliance
at least twice a year for those subs or pullers
that you use. If you’re going to use a new
sub, verify compliance before you use them and
then every six months thereafter.
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Q. Why was I [we] not notified about these
regs?
A. AADT provides a service and was not responsible
for notifying you about the DOT regulations. Now
that you have joined our program we are obligated
to keep you informed and in compliance –
That’s our promise.
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Q. If I am out of my normal working area,
how do I know where to go for the test?
A. We have provided you with a list of collection
sites in section 7 of this manual. You can also
call us at 1-800-820-9314 if you need a site for
an area that is not listed.
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