DOT TESTING HISTORY & PREVIOUS EMPLOYER CHECKS

 For employees applying for safety-sensitive positions, DOT regulations require employers to obtain drug and alcohol test history information from previous employers. DOT previous employer checks provide a record for employers to consider, as well as maintain compliance standards and regulations for safety-sensitive positions.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How Does it Work?

When an employee applies, they are asked to sign a written consent for the release of their drug and alcohol test records from each employer within the last three years.

• If an employee does not consent, they cannot be hired for a safety-sensitive position.
• If an employee consents, they may begin working in a safety-sensitive position for up to 30 days while their records process. If the records aren’t processed within the 30-day period, the employee may continue to work in the safety-sensitive position as long as the employer documents a good faith effort to obtain the records from the previous employers.

What Will be Requested?

When requesting a previous employer check, employers must request the following information:

• Alcohol tests with a result of 0.04 or higher
• Verified failed drug tests
• Any refusals to test (including verified adulterated or substituted drug tests)
• If the employee has been denied safety-sensitive positions in the past two years
• (If applicable) Documentation of DOT return-to-duty requirements, including follow-up tests