A pre-employment drug test is required before an employee first performs safety-sensitive functions for your company. You must receive a verified negative result from the MRO before the employee starts that work (49 CFR 382.301 for FMCSA-regulated drivers).

• If the test is canceled, the employee must take another test and get a verified negative result.
• DOT pre-employment alcohol testing is permitted but not required by FMCSA; if you do it, you must test all applicants the same way.
• For CDL drivers, you must also run a pre-employment query in the FMCSA Clearinghouse (49 CFR 382.701).

To order the test, create a test request with the reason Pre-employment. See Order a drug or alcohol test.

What is a pre-employment Clearinghouse query?