DOT SAPs: What’s the Top Priority When Planning Treatment (and How to Talk to the MRO)

If you work in a safety-sensitive position like driving a truck, operating heavy equipment, working on a pipeline, or flying a plane and you've had a DOT drug or alcohol testing violation, you'll need to complete the SAP process before returning to duty.

So how does a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) decide what kind of help you need? And what happens if they have questions about your positive test result?

The SAP’s Top Priority: Long-Term Success and Compliance

When a SAP builds your treatment and education plan, they aren’t just fulfilling a requirement. Their main goal is to choose the path that gives you the best chance of staying compliant and avoiding future violations.

Here’s what that means:

1. It’s about supporting long-term success, not just checking a box
2. Your treatment plan is based on your individual risk level, patterns of use, and personal situation
3. SAPs use their training and your evaluation to recommend the right level of care, whether that’s outpatient education, residential treatment, or something in between

This process is personalized to help you return to work safely and responsibly.

Communicating with the MRO: No Release Needed

Sometimes the SAP needs more information about your drug test, such as the exact substance, testing timeline, or lab details. That’s when they’ll reach out to the Medical Review Officer (MRO).

DOT rules allow SAPs to contact the MRO directly without needing a signed release from you. This is because the information is considered essential to accurately assessing your case.

Still, MROs are careful about sharing information. If the SAP doesn’t provide proof of their identity and role, the MRO may hesitate.

To avoid delays, SAPs should send:

1. Their professional credentials or qualifications
2. The standard DOT SAP credential form that confirms their role

This shows the MRO that the SAP is authorized to receive the information and keeps everything running smoothly.

Final Thought

The SAP’s role isn’t to judge you. It’s to guide you through a process that helps you return to safety-sensitive work in a responsible and informed way. That starts with asking the right questions, using trusted information, and building a plan that supports your long-term success.

If you're working through the SAP process, you're already taking the right steps. And if you're unsure how to move forward, there's help available to walk you through it. Feel free to contact us.