DOT Drug/Alcohol Screening Procedures

Students are required to pay a fee to have a DOT drug/alcohol screening test, which is scheduled by OFTC. All drug and alcohol tests for the Commercial Truck Driving program of OFTC will be performed by a college-approved drug and alcohol testing company, which is an approved DOT-certified collection site.

Additional fees will apply for the following situations. (Fees are subject to change.)
Students who test positive on a reasonable suspicion, post-accident, and/or random drug test will be charged an additional fee.
Students who refuse to have a drug test will be charged an additional fee.
Students who are mandated or requested to have an observed specimen will have an additional charge.
Students who report for testing not within normal operating hours will be charged an additional per hour charge on the quarter hour.
Students who notify the Medical Review Officer (MRO) of their desire to request a split sample test and subsequently change their mind are responsible for the retesting cost, if they do not contact the MRO within the specified time frame of their intent to cancel the request.

Analytical urine drug testing and breath-testing for alcohol may be conducted when circumstances warrant or as required by Federal regulations. While enrolled in the CTD program, all students shall be subject to drug testing for reasonable suspicion and following an accident as defined in the Post-Accident Testing section of this procedure. CTD students shall also be subject to drug and alcohol testing on a random, unannounced basis. Testing shall be conducted in a manner to assure a high degree of accuracy and reliability and using techniques, equipment, and laboratory facilities which have been approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS). All testing will be conducted consistent with the procedures put forth in 49 CFR Part 40 as amended.

A controlled substance test will be a Federal DOT Drug Screen. The drugs that will be tested for include marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and phencyclidine. An initial drug screen will be conducted on each urine specimen. For those specimens that are positive, a confirmatory Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) test will be performed. The test will be considered positive if the amounts present are above the minimum thresholds established in 49 CFR Part 40, as amended. In instances where there is a reason to believe a student is abusing a substance other than the five drugs listed above, OFTC reserves the right to test for additional drugs under its own authority using standard laboratory testing protocols.

Tests for breath alcohol concentration will be conducted utilizing a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved testing device operated by a trained technician. If the initial test indicates an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or greater, a second test will be performed to confirm the results of the initial test. The confirmatory test will be performed using a NHTSA approved evidential breath testing device (EBT) operated by a trained breath alcohol technician.

Any CTD student that has a confirmed positive drug or alcohol test will be dismissed from the CTD program and informed of educational and rehabilitation programs available. OFTC affirms the need to protect individual dignity, privacy, and confidentiality throughout the testing process. The privacy of individuals taking these tests will be maintained consistent with policies of OFTC, and records will be maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Students who test positive will be contacted by the medical review officer (MRO) from the DOT-approved lab. If the student is unavailable and an answering machine is available, a message will be left with a telephone number for the student to return the call. If no contact is made, the MRO will attempt to call the student several times. If unsuccessful, the MRO will contact the OFTC Office of Academic Affairs with the results. The student’s request for a split sample test must be made to the medical review officer within 72 hours of notice of the original sample verified test result. The request may be verbal or in writing. Requests after 72 hours will only be accepted if the delay was due to documentable facts that were beyond the control of the student. Failure to respond to a medical review officer regarding drug/alcohol test results will result in a positive reading which will result in dismissal from the program.