Blog
Driver Fatigue: The Signs and Solutions
If you’re a truck driver, you know how many hours of sleep you’re supposed to get. But no one told your two-month-old who was up all night with colic. It isn’t the first sleepless night since you brought the baby home, and you know it won’t be the last, but you still...
How to Get and Stay Ready for a DOT Audit
No one likes audits. The word has such a negative connotation, thanks to the IRS. However, DOT audits aren't about how much money or whether or not you filled out your tax forms correctly. It's about people going home to their families at the end of the day rather...
Why Sharing Medication Is Dangerous For Commercial Drivers
It's difficult for commercial drivers to get to a doctor's office. You may work during the doctor's regular business hours, travel out of the area, or need to fill in for other drivers who are out sick. Collectively, you are responsible for keeping supply lines open...
What Can Long-distance Truck Drivers Do to Maintain Their Physical and Mental Health?
The men and women who make sure your packages, food stuffs, and other essential materials are delivered intact and on time usually face gruelingly long hours on the road, frequent separations from loved ones, and considerable mental and physical stress. We queried...
Which factors lead to a temporarily suspended DOT physical certification and what course of action can lift the suspension?
A suspended DOT physical certification can cause a lot of stress and devastation. However, knowing what leads to a suspension and how to get it lifted can help you stay calm and follow the proper course of action to get your suspension raised. Read on to...
Fatal Flaws: Error Correction Training For Urine Specimen Collectors
Mistakes happen. You forget to sign a document, the test tube leaks, or the tube does not seal correctly. While you may be able to resolve or correct some errors, others are considered fatal flaws. If the urine sample is no longer usable and the test can no longer be...
Why Portable Spirometers Are Invaluable For DOT Examiners
For those who are or want to become a DOT certified medical examiner, having the right tools is crucial. They will allow you to accurately assess the health and fitness of the commercial drivers you see in your office. While you may already have many of these tools,...
Medical Marijuana: How it Can Affect Your CDL Status
Medical marijuana is scientifically proven to aid people with certain physical and mental illnesses. And, like many medicines, whether derived from plants or chemically created, marijuana has side effects. Is prescribed marijuana legal when driving with a CDL...
Do shifting schedules impact commercial drivers’ ability to drive safely or their DOT physicals?
Commercial drivers can find jobs at any hour of the day or night, which can be great for flexibility. But it can be disruptive when schedules are constantly changing. These safe driving enthusiasts discuss the impacts of shifting schedules on commercial drivers'...
7 Factors That Can Affect Blood Pressure During DOT Physical
If you have your commercial driver’s license (CDL), you may need a physical exam. Your blood pressure is a vital aspect of the physical and an important indicator of your health. Untreated high or low blood pressure can lead to avoidable accidents, so it’s important...
Recent Posts
A Comprehensive Guide to Alcohol Screening
Companies may choose to conduct alcohol screening for various reasons. For some federally regulated workers, governing organizations mandate random alcohol screening. For other organizations, alcohol testing is more likely to be conducted after an accident, when there...
Why Positive Drug Tests Aren’t Always the End of the Road
As you will learn in the course of your DOT urine collection certification, urine drug tests occasionally come back positive even though the donor isn't using any illicit drugs. Sometimes, the drug tests pick up other prescription medications making it appear as if...
How an Employer Can Assess the Proficiency of a Specimen Collector
Your business's reputation is defined by the proficiency of your staff. Drug testing specimen collectors and Breath Alcohol Technicians (BATs) get training according to the Department of Transportation's regulations, so a DOT certification course is a solid indicator...
Starting Your Own DOT Drug Testing Business
So, you’ve decided to open your own drug testing business. There are multiple arenas where your services will be needed, from worried parents with wayward teens to truck drivers hauling goods across the nation. Here are some things to keep in mind moving toward that...
Can You Pass a DOT Medical Exam With a Heart Murmur?
A normal heart rhythm, as heard through a stethoscope, has two distinct beats. A whooshing sound can indicate a heart murmur. Blood may be passing through the heart in an atypical fashion. It may be a condition you were born with or a sign of disease. The type of...