DOT Drug Testing in Nichols, IA
Local Testing Centers
We provide Nichols Iowa DOT Drug Testing, DOT Alcohol Testing, DOT Physicals and DOT Consortium enrollment at locations throughout the State of Iowa. Our Nichols, IA 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 Iowa DOT drug testing procedures and all Nichols, IA 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Nichols
Nichols is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. The population was 374 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The original name of the site of the current town was Railroad Addition. The town was later referred to as Nichols Station in reference to the previous holder of the town's site. Nichols was named by the early settler Benjamin F. Nichols in honor of his father, Samuel Nichols, who was instrumental in bringing the railroad to the area. Samuel Nichols was a heavy investor in the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad Company as well as owner of large landholdings. Samuel Nichols had given the rail company the right of way to construct the rail line across his land, as well as to establish a depot at the current site of Nichols.
Nichols was established in the early 1870s in an area of Section 15 of Pike Township known locally as Elephant Swamp. The community was intended as a rail town for the shipment of agriculture products and furs to distant markets, and had been constructed on land donated to the rail company by Samuel and Benjamin Nichols with the intention of establishing a rail depot. The lots for the future community were surveyed by county surveyor George Bumgardner in June, 1871. Two rail lines would eventually run through the town – the Muscatine & Western Railroad and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern Railroad – which were both branches of the Rock Island system. The first rail line and rail depot was constructed in the early 1870s. Dr. S. H. Smith constructed the first building on the future site of Nichols in 1871, which Mr Smith used as both a drug store and as a home. Construction on the Muscatine & Western Railroad reached the site in 1873, and the rail company laid out an addition to the town, calling it Railroad Addition. At first many of the buildings and homes in the community were log cabins, which were then replaced by more permanent brick buildings. Benjamin Nichols established the first post office in 1870 and served as the first postmaster. The first school was built in 1872. In the winter of 1873-1874 a Christian church was organized with services being held in schoolhouses until the construction of the church in 1874, with services being conducted by Rev. John Powell. The German Evangelical Protestant Church was organized in 1874 by Rev. K. F. Obermann. The Catholic church – Church of St. Mary - was built in 1874 with Father Nicholas Dugan serving as its first pastor. A Methodist church was organized in 1875 by J. A. Bolton. The town soon grew with the addition of several banks, an opera house, and a town hall that had been constructed in 1897. The early economy of the community centered on the two rail lines that ran through the community as well as the buying and shipping of furs as well as agriculture. The Foley and Brugman Brothers operated two large grain elevators which held 15,000 bushels each. Cattle and hogs were also shipped out to markets through the rail lines.
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 Nichols IA
(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.