DOT Drug Testing in El Centro, CA
Local Testing Centers
We provide El Centro California DOT Drug Testing, DOT Alcohol Testing, DOT Physicals and DOT Consortium enrollment at locations throughout the State of California. Our El Centro, 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 El Centro, 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 El Centro
El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, California, United States. El Centro is the largest city in the Imperial Valley, the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also the largest American city to lie entirely below sea level (−42 feet or −13 meters). The city, located in southeastern California, is 113 miles (182 km) from the major Southern California city of San Diego and near the Mexican city of Mexicali.
The city was founded in 1906 by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker, who purchased the land on which El Centro was eventually built for about $40 per acre ($100 per hectare) and invested $100,000 ($2,800,000 in 2018 dollars) in improvements. The modern city is home to retail, transportation, wholesale, and agricultural industries. There are also two international border crossings nearby for commercial and noncommercial vehicles. El Centro's population was 42,598 at the 2010 census, up from 37,835 in 2000.
Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz was one of the first Europeans to visit the area around El Centro and Imperial Valley in 1540. The explorer Juan Bautista de Anza also explored the area in 1776 (an elementary school in El Centro now bears his name). Years later, after the Mexican–American War, the northern half of the valley was annexed by the U.S., while the southern half remained under Mexican rule. Small scale settlement in natural aquifer areas occurred in the early 19th century (the present-day site of Mexicali), but most permanent settlement (Anglo Americans on the U.S. side, Mexicans on the other side) was after 1900.
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 El Centro CA
1600 S IMPERIAL AVE STE 5
El Centro, CA 92243
1415 ROSS AVE
El Centro, CA 92243
1635 W Main St,
El Centro, CA 92243
350 W ROSS AVE STE C
El Centro, CA 92243
588 Broadway St
El Centro, CA 92243
1441 W STATE ST STE B
El Centro, CA 92243
1503 N IMPERIAL AVE STE 202
El Centro, CA 92243
1850 W MAIN ST STE E
El Centro, CA 92243
(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.