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DOT Drug Testing in Desert Center, CA

DOT Drug Testing in Desert Center, CA

Local Testing Centers

DOT-Testing-District of Columbia    

We provide Desert Center California DOT Drug Testing, DOT Alcohol Testing, DOT Physicals and DOT Consortium enrollment at locations throughout the State of California. Our Desert Center, CA DOT Drug Testing locations are within minutes of your home or office. Same day service is available in most places.

The staff of Smart Drug Testing is trained and certified in California DOT drug testing procedures and all Desert Center, CA DOT drug tests are analyzed by a SAMHSA Certified Laboratory and reviewed by our licensed physicians, who serve as the Medical Review Officers (MRO). To schedule a DOT drug test at any of our California locations, call (800) 977-8664 or you may schedule your test 24/7 by clicking the "Order your Test" button.

Please be aware that our California DOT drug testing centers do not accept any form of payment and require a test registration/ donor pass to administer a drug, alcohol, or any other type of test. You must call (800) 977-8664 to register for a test or you may register online, no appointment is needed, but a test registration form is required. Your zip code will be used to find our closet drug testing center to perform the drug or alcohol test which is needed.

Our California drug testing services are delivered with the highest commitment to customer satisfaction and we are dedicated to providing convenient, cost effective and confidential drug and alcohol testing services with one of the fastest results reporting methods available in the industry. Regardless if you are an individual ordering one test or an employer scheduling 100 tests, our commitment to providing outstanding customer service is the same. We also only use certified laboratories and all test results are verified by our Medical Review Officers (MRO).

On the road or on vacation? No worries. Smart Drug Testing has over 10,000 Drug and alcohol testing centers available in all cities and we can schedule your DOT Drug test, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!

What is a DOT drug test?

A DOT Drug test is a drug test that’s regulated by the government, specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT).

In 1991, the US Congress passed the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act when they recognized the need for a drug and alcohol-free transportation industry. The act required DOT agencies to implement drug and alcohol testing of safety-sensitive employees to maintain the safety of the traveling public and workers.

The DOT’s drug screening rules and procedures are listed within Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 40, commonly known as “Part 40.” These rules are published by an office within the DOT; the Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance (ODAPC).

DOT agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard write industry specific regulations that explain who is subject to testing, when, and in what situations. Industry employers implement the regulations that apply to their business.

Order a DOT Drug Test

Does your business fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation? Smart Drug Testing is a professional at establishing and administering DOT-compliant testing programs for any business in the transportation industry. We’re a consortium and third-party administrator, and we can manage your entire drug testing process from start to finish.

If you are a DOT-regulated company required to have a DOT-compliant drug and alcohol program in place, we can provide your business with complete driver drug and alcohol testing and program services. These include:

  • Writing your drug-free workplace policy
  • Collecting specimens and conducting driver drug and alcohol testing
  • Having all results verified by a medical review officer (MRO)
  • Training your Designated Employer Representative

Introduction to Desert Center

Desert Center is a census designated place in the Colorado Desert in Riverside County, California. It is in southern California, between the cities of Indio and Blythe at the junction of Interstate 10 and State Route 177, about halfway between Phoenix and Los Angeles. The ZIP Code is 92239, and the community is in telephone area codes 442 and 760. The elevation is 656 feet (200 m). The population was 204 at the 2010 census.

The town was founded in 1921 by Stephen A. Ragsdale, also known as "Desert Steve", and his wife, Lydia. Ragsdale was an itinerant preacher and cotton farmer, originally from Arkansas. In 1915, he left his farm in the Palo Verde Valley along the Colorado River to attend to some business in Los Angeles. The road between Phoenix and Los Angeles was mostly sand, and Ragsdale's vehicle broke down near a place called Gruendyke's Well. This featured a hand-dug well and was inhabited by a prospector named Bill Gruendyke. Gruendyke rescued Ragsdale and gave him food, shelter, and water until his vehicle was repaired and he could resume his journey to Los Angeles.

Upon his return, Ragsdale bought out Gruendyke and moved his family to the remote spot, where they constructed a small shack with a lean-to that served as a repair garage. A Model T truck was modified to serve as a tow car. Gasoline was pumped by hand from a 55-gallon drum. Lydia served food and refreshments to thirsty and weary travelers. In spite of the remote location—50 miles (80 km) in any direction from anything—the Ragsdales prospered. Ragsdale named his outpost "Desert Center". In 1921, it was announced that the sand road running through Desert Center would be relocated about 5 miles (8.0 km) north, straightened, paved, and named U.S. Route 60, a modern "high-speed" highway. Ragsdale abandoned "old Desert Center" and built a poured-concrete café in the adobe style with an attached gasoline station and a huge service garage. Across the road, a series of wooden structures were built, including a market (which at one time was the largest Coleman camping equipment dealer in the country), and a post office. He also built several cabins for travelers, and a large "plunge" (swimming pool) next to the café where travelers could escape the desert heat.

What do DOT drug tests test for?

All DOT drug tests use the same 5-panel test. It tests for:

  • Marijuana metabolites/THC
  • Cocaine metabolites
  • Amphetamines (including methamphetamine, MDMA)
  • Opioids* (including codeine, heroin (6-AM), morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone)
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)

Although there are several options for drug tests, DOT regulated drug tests must use urine samples.

When are safety-sensitive employees required to get DOT drug tests?

DOT drug tests are required in the following situations:

Pre-employment, or before you start your job responsibilities.

Reasonable suspicion/cause, or if one or more trained supervisors reasonably believes/suspects that you are under the influence of drugs. This must be based on observations concerning appearance, behavior, speech, smell, etc.

Random testing. Random tests must use a truly random selection process, each employee must have an equal chance to be selected and tested. These are completed quarterly.

Return-to-duty testing, which is required after a violation of drug and alcohol rules. You can’t return to any DOT job before being tested and may be subject to unannounced testing at least 6 times in first 12 months. These tests must be conducted under direct observation.

Follow-up testing that takes place after return-to-duty. A Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) manages the follow-up testing for up to 5 years, determining how many times an employee is tested, and for what substance. These are completed in addition to other DOT required testing.

Post-accident testing. This is required if you’re involved in an accident meeting certain DOT criteria. An alcohol test must occur within 8 hours of the accident, and a drug test within 32 hours.

What happens if I fail my DOT drug test?

If you fail your DOT regulated drug test, DOT regulations require your employer to immediately remove you from performing any DOT safety-sensitive job. There may be other consequences, too, like losing your certification or license. This depends on your company’s policy or employment agreement.

DOT Drug Testing Locations in Desert Center CA

(Don't see a location near you? Call us (800) 977-8664)

Smart Drug Testing workforce experts stay up-to-date on DOT regulations, and can ensure that your business maintains compliance. If you’re interested in using our regulated drug testing services, connect with a member of our team. Our clinics also have a certified medical examiner on hand at all times to perform DOT physicals.

FAQ's About DOT Testing in Desert Center, CA

 
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN A DOT DRUG TEST?
DOT drug testing is different from regular drug tests. For example, even though there are several ways to perform a drug test, the DOT only allows urine drug testing. They also require a very thorough testing process, so results usually take longer to process.
  • HHS certified lab testing only
  • No rapid, instant, or point of contact testing permitted
  • Tests for marijuana, cocaine, phencyclidine, amphetamines and methamphetamine, opiates
WHO FALLS UNDER THE DOT DRUG TESTING PROGRAM?
Here are some examples of jobs that must be tested as part of the DOT drug testing program. This list isn’t comprehensive, and certain jobs may have additional requirements. For a full list, please visit the Department of Transportation’s website.
  • Commercial vehicle drivers
  • Locomotive engineers, dispatchers, and signalmen
  • Flight crew members and air traffic controllers
REASONS FOR TESTING?
The Department of Transportation has different testing requirements for different areas of transportation. For example, air traffic controllers may not have the same testing requirements as commercial vehicle drivers. To find the requirements for your industry or job, visit Transportation.gov. You can also sign up for their newsletter so you’ll be notified if anything changes.
DO YOU NEED TO FAST FOR A DRUG URINE TEST?
If your urine is being tested only for a urinalysis, you can eat and drink normally before the test. If you‘re having other tests at the same time, you may need to fast for a certain amount of time before the test
 

DOT Drug Testing Locations near Desert Center, California