Pre-Employment vs. Continuous Drug Testing: Why Transportation Businesses Need Both

Transportation businesses face unique challenges when it comes to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Due to the nature of the industry, employees who operate vehicles or equipment must be alert and focused at all times; to ensure the safety of employees and the public, drug testing policies are essential. To do this, employers use two employee drug testing tools: pre-employment drug testing and continuous monitoring. Let’s take a brief look at the differences between pre-employment testing and continuous drug testing and why transportation businesses need to do both.

Pre-Employment Drug Testing

Pre-employment drug testing is conducted before a candidate is hired. This type of drug testing is used to screen out candidates who are currently using drugs. Pre-employment testing typically includes a urine test, but it can also include blood, hair, or saliva tests. The goal of pre-employment drug testing is to ensure the candidate is drug-free prior to hiring.

Continuous Drug Testing

Continuous drug testing is conducted after a candidate has been hired. This type of drug testing is used to detect drug use among current employees. Continuous testing is often done randomly, but it can also be done on a scheduled basis. The goal of continuous drug testing is to deter drug use among employees and to detect drug use that may have gone undetected during the pre-employment drug testing process or that may have begun post hiring.

Why Transportation Businesses Need Both

Transportation businesses need to conduct both pre-employment drug testing and continuous drug testing to establish and maintain safety. Pre-employment drug testing helps ensure the candidate is drug-free before they are hired; continuous drug testing ensures they’ve remained drug-free.

In the transportation industry, the consequences of an accident caused by a drug-impaired employee can be catastrophic. By implementing both pre-employment drug testing and continuous drug testing, transportation businesses can reduce the risk of accidents caused by impaired employees.

Additionally, transportation businesses that are subject to federal regulations must comply with specific drug testing requirements. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires that commercial driver's license (CDL) holders be tested for drugs before employment, after certain accidents, and randomly throughout their employment. By implementing both pre-employment and continuous drug testing, transportation businesses can ensure they are putting safe drivers on the road and in compliance with all industry regulations.

The Bottom Line

Both pre-employment drug testing and continuous drug testing are required to ensure safety on the road. By implementing both types of drug testing, transportation businesses reduce the risk of accidents caused by drug-impaired employees and ensure compliance.