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As an owner-operator, it can feel devastating to learn you’ve violated a DOT drug and alcohol test.
A single violation forces you off the road until you successfully complete the DOT SAP program – and this puts your business and livelihood at risk.
While this experience feels daunting, you can save your career with help from American River Wellness.
Our guide below explains what you need to know about the DOT SAP program as an owner-operator and how to get back on the road quickly.
Key Takeaways
- As an owner-operator, you’re considered both an employee and employer for DOT drug testing and SAP program purposes, which means you can’t self-test, you must enroll with a C/TPA, and meet reporting, querying, and documentation requirements in addition to complying with the RTD process after a violation.
- To get back on the road, you have to complete your SAP evaluation, follow your SAP’s recommendations, submit a negative result for your observed RTD drug test, and complete follow-up testing.
- American River Wellness is a DOT-qualified SAP that can help you get back to work faster through a SAP program designed for your needs.
Drug Testing Requirements for Owner-Operators in 2026
The FMCSA’s Clearinghouse rules mandate queries by you as an employer, your SDLA, and any prospective employers (if you consider moving from owner-operator status to employee status).
Since you’re both the employer and employee as an owner-operator, you can’t self-test.
Instead, you must enroll in a consortium administered by a third-party administrator (C/TPA) for its random testing pool.
The C/TPA performs pre-employment, random, post-accident, and other mandated DOT drug tests instead of the owner-operator.
The FMCSA doesn’t endorse or approve C/TPAs, so it will be up to you to find a reliable one.
To find a good C/TPA, you can search for a Consortium/Third-Party Administrator for DOT drug and alcohol tests online, search the yellow pages, and consult with trucking organizations in your area for advice.
You need to report immediately to the testing site when notified that you have been selected for testing.
What Happens if You Fail a DOT Drug Test
When you fail a DOT drug test as an owner-operator in 2026, your state driver’s license agency will automatically downgrade your CDL.
Medical review officers (MROs) report information about verified failed drug and alcohol tests within strict timeframes to the Clearinghouse, and your C/TPA also must report failures within the reporting requirements outlined under 49 CFR 382.705.
This means that all stakeholders, including the FMCSA, can quickly see violations.
After a violation, you must:
- Immediately remove yourself from duty
- Report your violation to the Clearinghouse
- Report information about your RTD process and follow-up testing.
Your CDL stays downgraded until you complete the return-to-duty process.
Your Next Steps
1. Self-Refer to a DOT-Qualified SAP
Unlike CDL drivers who are employed by others, you won’t receive a list of DOT-qualified SAPs from an employer.
Instead, you’ll need to choose a SAP yourself. Make sure the professional you choose is DOT-qualified, like American River Wellness.
Substance Abuse Counselors who aren’t DOT-qualified can’t provide you with an approved SAP program.
2. Schedule Your SAP Evaluation
The faster you can schedule and complete your SAP evaluation, the better. Getting started on the process quickly can get you one step closer to returning to the road.
American River Wellness is a DOT-qualified SAP that offers same-day and next-day availability as well as virtual SAP evaluations to simplify the process.
3. Prepare for Your Evaluation
Before your evaluation, do the following things to prepare:
- Gather information about your violation (lab testing results, police reports, etc.)
- Abstain from substance use (alcohol and drugs)
- Review information about the SAP process to understand what will occur
- Understand your legal requirements under the DOT and FMCSA rules as an owner-operator
4. Complete Your SAP Evaluation
Meet with your DOT-qualified SAP. They will ask you questions about your violation, substance use history, and other factors that contributed to what occurred.
Your SAP will then devise a treatment plan based on their findings.
5. Comply With Treatment Recommendations
You must comply with all treatment and education recommendations provided by your SAP, which might include any of the following:
- Drug and alcohol education classes
- Outpatient drug and alcohol counseling
- Outpatient groups
- Inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation (if necessary)
The SAP will monitor you during the process to ensure compliance.
6. Attend the Second Evaluation
Once you’ve completed the treatment recommendations, you’ll meet with your SAP again.
They will review your participation to determine compliance.
7. Take a Return to Duty Drug Test
You must take a return-to-duty drug test and submit a negative result.
This test will be directly observed by a trained collector of the same gender who will watch for any attempts to submit an adulterated or substituted specimen.
8. SAP Report
Your SAP will submit a report to the Clearinghouse and your T/CPA once you’ve completed your recommendations.
This report will allow you to return to duty, but you’ll need to comply with all follow-up testing requirements.
9. Complete Follow-Up Testing
Depending on your violation’s severity and your SAP’s recommendations, you might have to undergo follow-up testing for up to five years after you return to work.
At a minimum, you must complete six unannounced tests during your first year back to work.
Since you’re an employer, you must also keep records of all follow-up testing and report any violations to the Clearinghouse.
If you fail a follow-up test, you must remove yourself from duty and restart the RTD process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Trying to Self-Manage Drug Testing
As an owner-operator, you can’t manage drug testing yourself.
The FMCSA requires you to enroll with a C/TPA to participate in its random drug testing pool.
If you instead try to self-manage drug testing, you’ll be subject to fines and other penalties.
2. Ignoring Clearinghouse Rules
You must follow several rules, including:
- Completing required Clearinghouse queries
- Reporting violations promptly
- Failing to remove yourself from duty following a violation
- Retaining documentation of violations and the RTD process
- Completing a follow-up testing program per your SAP’s recommendations
Violating these rules can result in the loss of your CDL privileges and/or steep fines.
3. Failing to Start the RTD Process Promptly
You won’t be able to return to work until you complete the RTD process.
This makes it important to schedule and complete your SAP evaluation as soon as possible after your violation.
You should also immediately start your treatment and education recommendations once you receive them.
Completing the SAP program can help you receive clearance to return to duty faster.
4. Choosing a Non-Credentialed Substance Abuse Counselor
Be careful when choosing a SAP.
Your substance abuse professional must be DOT-qualified for your program to count.
Be aware of scammers who might claim to offer DOT-qualified SAP services. A legitimate SAP should be able to provide verification of qualifications.
American River Wellness is a DOT-qualified SAP and is fully authorized to complete your SAP evaluation and design your SAP program.
5. Not Following the SAP’s Treatment Recommendations
Completing your SAP evaluation is only one part of the RTD process.
If you don’t follow your SAP’s treatment and education recommendations, you won’t be able to return to duty, either working for yourself or for another employer.
Your violation will remain in the Clearinghouse for five years from the date of the violation, but only if you complete the requirements of the program and all required testing.
Get Back to Work Faster with American River Wellness
When you’ve violated the DOT drug and alcohol rules as an owner-operator, you must follow the requirements for both employers and employees to get back on the road.
You’ll need to ensure your violation is reported promptly and that you start your SAP program as soon as possible to get back to work faster.
American River Wellness offers convenient SAP evaluations and can help you get started quickly.
Call or text us today to schedule your SAP evaluation: (833) 436-8727.
DISCLAIMER: This information is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. It should not be interpreted as legal counsel or guidance.
FAQ
As an owner-operator, you must take a 5-panel DOT drug test that checks for the recent use of substances in the following five categories of drugs:
– Marijuana/THC
– Cocaine
– Opiates (heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, etc.)
– Amphetamines/methamphetamines
– Phencyclidine (PCP)
The DOT published a proposed rule in the Federal Register in Sept. 2025 that would add fentanyl and norfentanyl to its DOT drug testing panel.
Expect to see these drugs added to the required drug panels sometime in 2026, following the publication of the final rule.
A DOT SAP program’s cost varies. It depends on your location, the services you need, and your SAP.
The initial SAP evaluation typically costs between $400 and $600. Other costs may include treatment, education, a return-to-duty test, and follow-up tests.
More serious violations and incidents involving a significant substance abuse history will involve higher expenses than less serious incidents.
At American River Wellness, we charge a straightforward $450 base rate for your SAP evaluation, with no hidden fees.
This covers the first evaluation and a follow-up, but not any education, counseling, or treatment we recommend, since those needs vary and are billed separately.
Your return-to-duty drug test isn’t included because your employer or their third-party administrator handles that directly, not us.
Federal law requires SAP providers to remain available for follow-up consultations for five years after your program ends, and while some providers charge for that, we don’t.
We also offer flexible payment plans through Afterpay (starting at only $112) to make the process more affordable.
Yes, you must obtain a DOT number if you’re an owner-operator who meets any of the following criteria:
Your CMV weighs 10,001 pounds or more and is used to transport goods in interstate commerce; or
You use your CMV in interstate commerce to transport eight or more passengers (including yourself), and it’s designed to do so; or
Your CMV is designed to transport 15 or more passengers (including the driver) in interstate commerce; or
You use your CMV in intrastate commerce to transport the types and amounts of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) requiring placarding.
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