The University of Minnesota is required by law to comply with the U.S Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs.
Per the University Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy for FMCSA-Covered Employees, University of Minnesota employees subject to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program are drivers who are employed by the University’s agricultural/farm operations, Research and Outreach Centers, Landscape Arboretum, and others who are required to hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and who operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), when that vehicle meets the following:
- a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds inclusive of a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds; or
- a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds; or
- designed to transport 16 or more persons including a driver.
Employee and Supervisor Resources
- Supervisors must contact the Biosafety and Occupational Health Department by email ([email protected]) for support with enrolling employees into the program. Completing all the requirements takes at least one week.
- Employees may find the following resource useful: What Employees Need To Know About DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing
Drug and Alcohol Testing for FMCSA-covered employees
University of Minnesota employees subject to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Program are obligated by law to submit and cooperate in Drug and Alcohol testing mandated by DOT regulations.
A positive result from a drug or alcohol test, and/or a Refusal to Test will result is a violation of DOT federal regulations and requires removal from safety-sensitive duties. In order to return to safety-sensitive duties, the Return to Duty requirements must be completed. The Return to Duty requirements include an evaluation, referral, and education/treatment process conducted by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP). Details about specific Drug and Alcohol testing can be found below:
Pre-employment / Pre-placement (controlled substances only)
An employee that receives a job offer is required by federal law to complete a pre-employment / pre-placement drug-test (urine). All job offers are contingent on a negative result.
Random (alcohol and controlled substances)
An employee is required by federal law to enroll in a random drug and alcohol testing pool. Random testing for the University of Minnesota is accomplished by a third party and ensures that each employee has an equal chance of completing random drug and alcohol testing each time a selection is made. As a result, a single employee may be selected to complete random drug and alcohol testing more than once per year.
Reasonable Suspicion (alcohol and controlled substances)
Reasonable suspicion means a belief that a driver has violated alcohol or controlled substances prohibitions, based on specific, contemporaneous, documentable observations concerning the appearance, behavior, speech, or body odors of that driver. In the case of controlled substances, the observations may include indicators of the chronic and withdrawal effects of controlled substances.
An employee is required by federal law to submit to reasonable suspicion drug and/or alcohol testing when a supervisor has reason to believe that an employee has engaged in prohibited conduct. Only a supervisor or University official trained in compliance with FMCSA rules and regulations can determine that an employee should be tested. The Supervisors must use specific forms to document and report these incidents. Reach out to uohs@umn.edu with any questions
Post-accident (alcohol and controlled substances)
An employee involved in an accident is required by federal law to determine whether or not post-accident drug and alcohol testing is required. Employees must use a specific form to make this determination. Reach out to uohs@umn.edu with any questions.
Return-to-duty (alcohol and controlled substances)
An employee is required by federal law to provide a negative result for a return-to-duty drug and/or alcohol test(s) is a part of the Return to Duty requirements.
Follow-up testing (alcohol and controlled substances)
An employee is required by federal law to complete Follow-up alcohol and/or drug testing as a Return-to-Duty requirement, in addition to the Return-to-duty alcohol and/or drug testing. Follow-up-testing is employee-specific and dictated by a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP).
For any questions about either program, contact the Biosafety and Occupational Health Department, at [email protected] or (612) 626-5008.