Completed Your SAP Program But Don’t Have an Employer to Order Your Return-to-Duty Test?
Learn how TeamCME helps unemployed CDL drivers complete RTD testing and Clearinghouse reporting.
You completed your SAP program. Your SAP has released you for Return-to-Duty (RTD) testing. But now you’ve hit another roadblock – you don’t have an employer to order and report your RTD drug test.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many CDL drivers find themselves in this exact situation after completing the SAP process. The good news is that FMCSA provides a way for unemployed drivers to complete the RTD process with the assistance of a Consortium/Third-Party Administrator (C/TPA) like TeamCME.
Who Can Order My Return-to-Duty Test?
If you’re employed by a DOT-regulated motor carrier, your employer is responsible for ordering your RTD drug test and reporting the verified negative result to the FMCSA Clearinghouse.
If you don’t have an employer managing your DOT drug and alcohol testing program, you still have a path forward.
FMCSA allows you to register in the Clearinghouse as an employer (owner-operator) and designate a C/TPA, such as TeamCME, to coordinate your RTD test and report it to the FMCSA Clearinghouse. This option was created specifically for drivers who have completed the SAP process but don’t have an employer available to perform these required functions. You do not need to obtain a USDOT Number or own a truck simply to use this process.
How TeamCME Helps
Now that you know who can order your RTD test, here’s how TeamCME helps make the process easier.
Once you’ve completed your SAP requirements, we can:
- Review your eligibility for RTD testing
- Coordinate the required RTD drug test
- Ensure the test is ordered correctly as a DOT RTD test
- Report your verified negative RTD test to the FMCSA Clearinghouse
- Answer your questions throughout the process
Our goal is to help you complete the process correctly so you can move forward with your job search as quickly as possible.
How to Complete Your RTD Test Without an Employer
- Complete your DOT Return-to-Duty drug test
- Register in the FMCSA Clearinghouse as an employer and indicate you are registering as an owner-operator
- Designate TeamCME as your C/TPA
- Complete TeamCME’s Return-to-Duty Reporting Request Form
- TeamCME reports your verified negative result to the FMCSA Clearinghouse
What Happens After My Return-to-Duty Test?
Once your RTD test has been reported, your Clearinghouse status changes from Prohibited to Not Prohibited. However, it does not complete the entire process. Once the driver is hired into a DOT safety-sensitive position, the employer must administer the SAP-prescribed follow-up testing plan.
Ready to Move Forward?
If you’ve completed your SAP program and need help getting your Return-to-Duty drug test ordered and reported to the FMCSA Clearinghouse, TeamCME is ready to help.
Complete our Return-to-Duty Reporting Request Form to get started. We’ll review your information, explain the next steps, and help you complete the process as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I've completed my SAP program. Why can't I just take a drug test?
Because a Return-to-Duty test must be ordered and reported under DOT requirements. A standard pre-employment or other DOT drug test does not satisfy the Return-to-Duty requirement.
I don't have an employer. Can I still complete my Return-to-Duty test?
Yes. FMCSA allows unemployed drivers to register as an owner-operator in the Clearinghouse and designate a C/TPA, like TeamCME, to manage the RTD testing and reporting process.
Do I need a USDOT Number?
No. Drivers using this process solely to complete their Return-to-Duty requirements should not obtain a USDOT Number for this purpose.
Do I have to own a truck?
No. Registering as an owner-operator in the Clearinghouse for the RTD process does not require you to own a truck or operate a motor carrier.
Will TeamCME report my negative Return-to-Duty test?
Yes. Once your verified negative RTD test is received, TeamCME will report it to the FMCSA Clearinghouse as part of the process.
Am I finished after the RTD test?
Not quite. Once you return to DOT safety-sensitive employment, your new employer must administer the follow-up testing plan prescribed by your SAP.
Medical Review & Authorship
Written by: Dr. Jeffrey Carlson – Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Carlson leads TeamCME’s medical training programs and publishes regularly on DOT medical compliance and examiner best practices.
Reviewed by: Dr. Michael Megehee, DC, NRCME – Founder & Senior Advisor
FMCSA subject matter expert selected to help design the original NRCME educational curriculum and first exam questions.