Spit(saliva) Drug Test

Driving for Swift, I was sent a message to come into a terminal on my qualcomm , which I had a feeling it was for random drug testing because I normally don't receive messages like that.

Anyway, I could not make it because of hours and had another pickup and went to another smaller terminal to drop the trailer.

I was then called on my arrival at the smaller terminal and was explained I would be randomly drug tested.

To my surprise, was told it would be a spit(saliva) test.

It was a much easier test because the results were immediate and only took a few seconds. Just swab in your mouth and check to see if it turns color. With the UA tests, it is a hassel and I need to prepare myself by drinking a lot of water.

My question, if anyone knows, is this a DOT authorized test now? Are they doing spit tests for new hires? I hope the industry is heading in that direction.

Thanks!

I only found this.. https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/part40/40-171

Not 100% sure but that was most likely a test for alcohol.

Yea sounds like an alcohol test to me as well. Not 100% sure though

Yea sounds like an alcohol test to me as well. Not 100% sure though

Yes, I agree was probably for alcohol. One of these days DOT will allow for saliva or hair samples.

Thanks!

Ive workef for employers (not trucking companies) that tested that way. Quick and easy.

Some British police forces have started using mouth swab tests on the side of the road for drug DUI.

What's interesting is that DOT currently allows ONLY URINE for "official tests". This includes mandatory randoms for compliance purposes (and companies ARE REQUIRED to randomly test a certain percentage of their driving force annually).

I wonder if DOT just "looks the other way" when they do their compliance audits of these companies that use hair or saliva for required testing.

You can pretty much BET that any post-accident testing (DOT Reportable) is going to be urine and/or blood.

Rick

The reason I posted this, is kinda funny, but also serious. It's that I have a form of what is known as 'shy bladder'. If I go to the bathroom and urinate and then get tested a few hours later without drinking LOTS of water, I cannot produce a sample.

When I was hired during orientation we were given two glasses of water and I almost failed to produce a sample in the 2 hour alloted time. Literally, it was down to the last few minutes. If I could not, it would have been marked as a refusal on my record and probably un-hireable. I would have had to see a doctor, etc.

There is an organization that advocates for changing UA drug testing: http://paruresis.org/drug-testing-reform/

Obviously, I would like to see more testing options, than just UA. Even a hair sample, as an alternative and from my understanding is more accurate.

So, if anyone is new to truck driving and think they may have a problem with producing a sample, the first day of orientation is when they usually do their UA test, so drink water.

:)

I'm not a driver (Yet) but I have been an ER nurse for years so let me just say what I know. I don't know anything about the saliva test other than it can be used for DNA databasing. If saliva can be used for drugs or alcohol that would be great. Urine is only for drugs and it cannot give an amount only a positive or negative. Blood is only good for alcohol and that can tell quantity, not just positive or negative. We always have a pool in the ER on the drunks that come in for BAC level. :) Hair is only for drugs. The advantage of hair is that it goes back for weeks or months as opposed to urine that's only good for hours or days.

I did some checking on Quest Labs website and according to them they can check for the presence of all the normal drugs through saliva. That does not mean that DOT has approved this for drivers yet. But it may be coming.