DOT agency
FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
Regulation
49 CFR Part 40 & Part 382
Format
In-person & telehealth, Pennsylvania-wide
Who this is for
- Class A and Class B CDL holders
- Interstate and intrastate commercial drivers
- Owner-operators and motor-carrier drivers
- School bus drivers requiring CDL
- Hazmat-endorsed drivers
- Drivers flagged in the FMCSA Clearinghouse
What to expect
The initial CDL SAP evaluation is a confidential 60–90 minute clinical session, conducted in person or via secure telehealth. Your SAP reviews your driving history, the violation, your substance-use history, and current circumstances. Based on that, the SAP issues a specific recommendation for education or treatment.
After you complete the recommended program, you return for a follow-up evaluation. Once the SAP determines you have successfully complied, your employer arranges your directly observed return-to-duty drug test. You also receive a follow-up testing plan — a schedule of unannounced tests you must complete to remain in compliance.
Mode-specific details
FMCSA Clearinghouse: Under 49 CFR Part 382, your DOT violation is reported to the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Your SAP enters your initial evaluation, return-to-duty status, and follow-up plan completion into the Clearinghouse. Until your status is "not prohibited," no employer can put you in a CMV.
Choice of SAP: Your employer must provide a list of DOT-qualified SAPs, but you are not required to use one from that list. The choice is yours.
Same-SAP rule: The same SAP who performs your initial evaluation should perform the follow-up evaluation. We stay with you through both stages.
Frequently asked
I'm a CDL driver in Pennsylvania — can I choose my own SAP?+
Yes. Under 49 CFR Part 40, the choice of Substance Abuse Professional is yours. Your employer must provide a list of qualified SAPs, but you are not required to use anyone on that list — you can choose any DOT-qualified SAP, including us.
Will this show up in the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse?+
Yes. Your violation is already reported to the Clearinghouse by your employer or MRO. Your SAP information, return-to-duty status, and follow-up testing plan completion are also reported. We walk you through exactly what your Clearinghouse record will show at each stage.
Can I drive a non-CDL vehicle for work while I complete the process?+
DOT only restricts safety-sensitive functions — driving a commercial motor vehicle requiring a CDL. Your employer may permit you to perform non-safety-sensitive work in the meantime, but that is the employer's decision.
How many follow-up drug tests will FMCSA require after I return to duty?+
DOT requires a minimum of six unannounced tests in the first 12 months back. Your SAP can extend follow-up testing for up to five years. The exact schedule is included in your follow-up testing plan.
I refused a test — does the SAP process still apply?+
Yes. Under DOT regulations, a test refusal (including a no-show, walk-out, or refusal to provide a specimen) is treated identically to a positive test. You must complete the full return-to-duty process with a qualified SAP before driving again.