SAP Follow-Up Testing Plans: Who Can Receive Them?

If you're a driver in a safety-sensitive role or an employer in the transportation industry, it's crucial to understand how Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) reports are handled, especially when it comes to follow-up testing plans.

Here’s the bottom line: SAPs are only allowed to send follow-up testing plans to employers—not recruiters. Even if a driver signs a release form, federal regulations (specifically 49 CFR §40.311 and §40.291) make it clear: recruiters are not considered employers, and therefore cannot receive this documentation.

What Drivers Should Avoid

Drivers should not ask SAPs to send their paperwork to multiple companies they’re applying to. This includes:

• SAP reports
• Follow-up testing plans
• Any documents meant for the Designated Employer Representative (DER)

Only the actual employer can request these documents directly from the SAP. Asking SAPs to send them to recruiters or a “wish list” of companies is not only inefficient—it’s against DOT regulations.