Follow-Up Testing Plans: Why DOT Keeps Them Confidential

If you’re a driver returning to work after a DOT drug or alcohol violation—or an employer or SAP helping someone through the process—you might be wondering: why can’t the employee know their follow-up testing schedule?

Let’s break down what the DOT says and why it matters.

What Is a Follow-Up Testing Plan?

After a driver completes the return-to-duty (RTD) process, the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) creates a follow-up testing plan. This plan includes:

1. The type of tests (drug, alcohol, or both)
2. The frequency of testing
3. The duration (how many months or years the plan will last)

The plan is then handed off to the employer, who is responsible for carrying it out.

Why Can’t the Employee See the Plan?

DOT regulations are clear: the follow-up testing plan must remain confidential. That means:

1. The employee cannot be told how many tests they’ll have
2. They can’t know how long the plan will last
3. They must not be given a testing schedule

Why? Because follow-up testing is meant to be unannounced and unpredictable. If the employee knows when or how often they’ll be tested, it defeats the purpose.

This isn’t random testing (though employers often call it that)—it’s targeted, observed testing designed to monitor compliance and prevent relapse.

What If the Employee Is Paying for the Tests?

Some employers allow drivers to return to work on the condition that they pay for their own follow-up tests. That’s allowed under DOT rules.

But even then, the employer still cannot share the testing plan—not even to help the employee budget. It’s a tough balance, but confidentiality comes first.

When Does the Plan Start and Stop?

The follow-up testing plan only runs when the driver is:

1. Employed, and
2. Performing safety-sensitive duties

If the driver is off work—say, during the winter in agriculture—the plan pauses. It doesn’t shorten. So a five-year plan could stretch across more than five calendar years if there are breaks in safety-sensitive work.

Final Takeaway

Follow-up testing is one of the most important safeguards in the DOT return-to-duty process. By keeping the testing schedule confidential, the system ensures accountability, safety, and genuine recovery. It allows SAPs to monitor progress objectively, employers to uphold compliance, and employees to maintain sobriety without relying on predictability. In the end, confidentiality is what makes the program effective.