Some Good and Some Bad News
By Sandy Medina – AADT CS Manager
As usual, we like to start with the good news first.
We have made it through the first half of 2014 and many changes are around the corner for the drug testing industry, AADT and our clients. The good news is that we have made access to your drug testing program and its testing results available 24/7, through aadrugtesting.com.
AADT has invested in hardware and software programing in anticipation of the new DOT CDL drivers’ drug and alcohol testing results Clearinghouse. With the Clearinghouse being implemented in late 2015, it is important to understand how easy accessing your drug testing program is.
Since going 100% paperless two years ago, and our sustained commitment to being green, AADT continues to look at ways to eliminate all documents that we still print and mail to you. With our online access features, which incidentally is a great way for clients to prove they are enrolled in a drug program during BIT-CSAT/DOT Carrier Inspections. Clients can just log onto their AADT account to view a current driver profile or driver list, print a current list of employees and even look up “random” testing history right in front of any inspector. It’s very easy and secure.
With all the new online access and the push to reduce printing and mailing, we have decided to downsize the fancy “Certificate of Enrollment.” It will now be available to you as a 5½” x 8½” “small certificate” that prints in color at the bottom of the last sheet of the company profile. We hope someday soon we can eliminate all paper forms, certificates and documents as online access will be the next generation, the future of verifying compliance. Below is an example of the new profile/certificate doc that’s now available online.
Clearinghouse Relies on Technology – For a Fee!
Last month we were one of about 170 interested parties to file comments to the proposed Drug and Alcohol Testing Clearinghouse. Ours are posted on the AADT website. There will be many challenges ahead but generally, most parties, including AADT are in support of the concept. Two things are for sure, one, drug testing is going to have far fewer loopholes, and unfortunately, it is going to be more expensive. The Clearinghouse is now approved by both the FMCSA and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) who incidentally also just approved the industry-wide use of electronic chain of custody forms, a major improvement in the drug collection and testing process.
We also want to remind you about the requirement of the use of only DOT Certified Medical Examiners (ME) for all interstate commercial drivers and even some instate commercial drivers. With all these new requirements by the FMCSA we knew that we would be seeing increases from our contracted collections sites, specifically U.S. Healthworks, we just didn’t anticipate to what stratospheric levels they are bumping their pricing for drug and alcohol collections and ME Certificates.
So, For the Very Bad News
With all these (mostly collection site fee increases) and were talking about 150% plus price increases that we are forced to accept, AADT must respond by raising our enrollment rates by just $10/year to off-set these increases. We believe that all collection sites and TPA’s will be seeing more changes and rate increases and costs of doing business in the near future.
Thank You
All of us at AADT/CCTA would like to thank all of you, our clients that continue to refer AADT to those that need affordable drug testing services! Without you, we would not be here.
