As a safety-sensitive employer regulated by a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) agency, you’re in charge of regulating your employees through routine testing to prevent accidents that could harm the public. If you’re asking, “Does a DOT physical include a drug test?” you’ve come to the right place.
At WorkSafe, we offer DOT physicals in Wichita, KS, so you can easily cross off your regulation requirements. Below, we discuss everything you need to know about this medical examination, including who it’s required for and what it entails.
What Is a DOT Test?
A DOT test is an exam administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to ensure that certain safety-sensitive workers and commercial drivers are in good enough health to be operating heavy machinery. These tests check the worker’s well-being, mental state, and compliance prior to employment and at certain intervals throughout their career to protect them and the well-being of the public. This prevents the major catastrophes that could occur if an unfit driver were to get behind the wheel of a major 18-wheeler, for example.
What Does the Bodily Exam Check?
Most employees must undergo a bodily exam to maintain their relevant driver certification credentials. DOT physicals check the following:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Blood pressure
- Urine
- Eyes, ears, mouth, and throat
- Heart
- Lungs
- Abdomen
- Extremities
- Spine
- Neurological reflexes
The DOT regulations are quite strict and thorough. For example, commercial vehicle drivers usually must have 20/40 vision acuity in each eye, normal blood pressure, and a minimum of 70” horizontal peripheral vision.
Does It Test for Drugs?
So, does a DOT physical include a drug test? Yes, in many cases, the exam will include a five-panel illicit substance screening. Depending on employment requirements, this occurs at certain intervals and may not always be present for all physicals.
The U.S. Department of Transportation test screens for the following substances:
- Marijuana (THC)
- Amphetamines
- Opiates (hydrocodone, heroin, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Cocaine
When Are Employers Required To Administer These Drug Tests?
Understanding your requirements as an employer ensures you meet health standards and safety regulations. U.S. Department of Transportation drug tests are required for specific agencies and workers and must be enforced during certain periods, as we’ll explain below.
Required Agencies
All agencies associated with the U.S. Department of Transportation must administer these tests. This includes the following:
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- The Federal Aviation Administration
- The Federal Railroad Administration
- The Federal Transit Administration
- The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- The U.S. Coast Guard
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Safety-Sensitive Employees
Not every employee in the above agencies will need routine testing, but many do. Workers in safety-sensitive positions must be examined to ensure they’re healthy enough to perform their jobs correctly. These include the following:
- Air traffic controllers
- Flight control specialists
- Aircraft dispatchers
- All crew members aboard air crafts, including pilots, flight attendants, and instructors
- Commercial truck drivers
- Bus drivers
- Pipeline and hazardous materials emergency crew, maintenance workers, and operators
- Train conductors, dispatchers, engineers, operators, signalmen, and utility employees
- U.S. Coast Guard service members
Required Testing Times
The above workers must be tested at specific times and intervals to meet the required standards. First, U.S. Department of Transportation agencies must screen all potential applicants for safety-sensitive positions with a pre-employment drug test. If the candidate fails, their offer should be withdrawn.
Drug tests should also be administered after accidents that cause injury, property damage, or fatality. For example, if a truck driver hits and damages a passenger vehicle, you will need to administer an illicit substance screening to determine the appropriate response moving forward.
Employers are also required to administer random screenings throughout the year to two or more workers based on rates set by their industry. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration requires a 25% testing rate, meaning one in four employees must be screened, while the Federal Transit Association has a 50% rate.
Beyond these basic standards, employers must also screen workers anytime they have reasonable suspicion to do so. If an employee’s results come back positive, you must follow the return-to-work protocols that enforce a standard leave timeframe and then required testing protocols once they return.
Schedule Your Team’s Physicals in Wichita Today
So, does a DOT physical include a drug test? In most cases, yes. Next, learn about DOT physical expectations, then call WorkSafe at (316) 262-8800 to schedule your team’s screenings in Wichita.