AADT Updates Industry Concerning Central Drug Test Results Clearinghouse

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February 26, 2013  
RE: An Open Letter to Our Valued Collection Sites
Dear Collection Site Managers and Labs:
American Alliance Drug Testing (AADT) recently sent out a notice to all our contracted collection site partners addressing the concerns and costs associated with errors created during the collection process. As stated in that letter, we no longer have the luxury to accept these collection errors and it is especially difficult to correct errors as a cost of doing business and we must share these costs with those responsible. Interestingly, we received a wide range of responses to our position. Frankly, 95% of the responses were positive as businesses within our industry appear to understand the need for personal responsibility. Make no mistake; our concerns are not just about the direct cost of errors, but the serious liability errors in the future can create for us all with the coming national clearinghouse for controlled substance and alcohol test results of commercial vehicle operators.

Question: My driver had an accident, what are the requirements for post-accident testing?

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Answer: Subpart C – Tests required §382.303 Post-accident testing.

(a) As soon as practicable following an occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle operating on a public road in commerce, each employer shall test for alcohol for each of its surviving drivers: (1) Who was performing safety-sensitive functions with respect to the vehicle, if the accident involved the loss of human life; or (2) Who receives a citation within 8 hours of the occurrence under state or local law for a moving traffic violation arising from the accident, if the accident involved: (i) Bodily injury to any person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the accident; or (ii) One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle. Read more

New Additions/Changes to AADT Collection Sites

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AADT will be expanding our collection site offering to include more than 1,600 specimen collection sites (patient service centers) located throughout the U.S. through our laboratory’s new owner, LabCorp. In total, we will have over 2,000 collection sites to choose from within the U.S. Read more

Hair Apparent: A New Drug Test For Truckers?

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By: Adam Snider & Jonathan Allen – Politico

The long-haired Grateful Dead used to sing about “Truckin’” on “reds, vitamin C and cocaine.” Now, some lawmakers see hair as the best way to test truckers for drug use.

That’s just the latest front in a broader federal crackdown on drugged driving.
This summer, Congress required the Department of Transportation to create a database of commercial drivers who have failed drug and alcohol tests. Read more

More Drivers Drugged Than Drunk These Days

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The OC Register

More California drivers tested positive for drugs – especially marijuana – than for alcohol during a first-of-its-kind roadside survey that safety officials say points to a serious and growing threat.

One in every seven drivers checked on four weekend nights this summer had illegal or prescription drugs in their system, which could make them dangerous behind the wheel, according to the survey released in December. Read more

AADT Changes Primary Medical Review Officer (MRO)

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Over the last year we have seen increases in the cost of goods and services from all of our vendors; labs, collection sites and even our MRO, who was actually asking for a 100% price increase. That of course was unacceptable to us and in early November we began searching for a replacement MRO service.

We are committed to providing our clients, “you,” with uncompromising service and unique technology to make the hassles of drug testing as hassle-free as possible. We have looked at other quality MRO vendors who do understand this economy and are willing to provide high quality services for less. Read more

AADT Adds Pre-printed Chain Of Custody Forms (CCF)

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We have determined that there is a need for a paperwork change to better assist our clients in getting their results (especially on pre-employment tests) as quickly as possible. As part of our new and improved MRO services, we will now have all of our chain of custody forms (CCF) printed and sent out to clients to store at your place of business or in the vehicle along with the AADT Form 111 Passport.

The “new” chain of custody forms will have your AADT ID number at the top along with your company name, address, phone and fax numbers etc. and the MRO information to the right, all pre-printed. When you run out just simply email us at cs@aadrugtesting.com or call us to place an order for replacements. Read more

Quick Pre-employment Testing Results Are a Must

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“We Get It”

It can be very stressful when you are looking to hire a new driver, especially if you have a truck sitting in the yard costing you money. and worse yet, you have loads waiting to be picked up or dropped off.

There is an enormous amount of liability associated with hiring a driver that is not pre-employment drug tested. Liabilities include regulatory/enforcement issues, fines and possibly treble damage legal claims that insurance companies may never cover. Clearly, ignoring pre-employment testing is not worth the costs to your business today. Read more

2013 DOT Random Testing Rates Notice

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The following chart outlines the annual minimum drug and alcohol random testing rates established within DOT Agencies and the USCG for 2013: Read more

Collection Site Fee Increases Forcing AADT to Raise Pricing Across the Board

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After reviewing the financials for year-end 2012, we identified a substantial increase in the “cost of goods” sold. This represents the costs of our lab fees, Medical Review Officer (MRO) fees and collector or collection fees.

This increase over the last 10 months has cost us $54,000 more than last fiscal year. Since our lab fees and MRO fees did not change, it was obvious that the collection sites have increased their fees, not by just a little, but a lot – 50% to 75% and even more in some cases. Read more

New Study Says Alcohol, Drugs Common In Fatal Crashes

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With highway fatalities on the rise after a decade of improved safety efforts, a new study show that more than half of U.S. drivers killed in car accidents had alcohol or drugs in their system at the time of the deadly crash. Read more

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

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Cosco Health Report

Recovery month, which has been observed for 23 years, originally focused on recognition for professionals who treat patients for substance abuse. In 1998 it shifted to celebrating the successes of individuals who had overcome addition and in 2011 it expanded to encompass all forms of behavioral health. Read more