In accordance with company policy, regarding continuing education and safety training, Peggy Bracey of First Med Alert, Inc. in Roanoke Rapids, NC recently attended DATIA's 2016 annual conference held in Las Vegas, NV April 26 - 29th. DATIA (Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association) offered several enriching and enlightening presentations and classes to help Bracey sharpen her skills during the week-long event, including Advanced Collection Issues and Advanced TPA Management workshops. The highlight of the event, as has been for Bracey in past years, was hearing the DOT Update, learning of potential upcoming changes to DOT regulations from speaker Patrice Kelly, Deputy Director for ODPAC, and Juan Moya, of the FMCSA.

"It is important for professionals in the drug testing industry to keep up-to-date with government regulations in our field, as well as to be aware of upcoming changes and advancements that can affect our clients," states Bracey.

"Ongoing education and training has always been a keystone of First Med Alert's ability to provide our clients with professional, accurate and dependable drug testing and TPA service."

First Med Alert, Inc. will celebrate 16 years of business in the Roanoke Valley in August, and has expanded to serve local, national, independent and government agencies from New Mexico to Massachusetts. Each staff member is a SAPAA trained collector and a BAT (breath alcohol technician). Additionally, Bracey is holds a certificate as a Professional Collector Trainer, providing on-site education to clients across the state.

WASHINGTON -- On Dec. 12, 2015, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) launched a new, simplified, online registration process that truck and bus companies, freight forwarders, brokers, intermodal equipment providers, and cargo tank manufacturing, inspection and repair facilities use as new applicants for USDOT registration.

The first phase of the Unified Registration System (URS) combines multiple “legacy” reporting forms into a single, online “smart form” that streamlines the registration and renewal process, improves efficiency, reduces errors and, most importantly, strengthens safety for the motoring public.

When fully implemented in 2016, URS will enable FMCSA to more readily identify unfit carriers and detect unsafe truck and bus companies seeking to evade Agency enforcement actions, including civil penalties, by attempting to regain USDOT registration by registering as a purported different, unrelated business entity.

FMCSA estimates URS will ultimately reduce costs to industry by approximately $9 million in time saved and fees incurred over a 10-year period.

For more information about URS visit: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/urs. # # #

Updated: Thursday, December 17, 2015 - See more at: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/fmcsa-launches-online-unified-registration-system-strengthens-safety-and-improves#sthash.PzzhzgKa.dpuf

According to the Federal Register dated November 25th key talking points will be changing the levels of cut offs of the inital testing at the labs for two drugs and adding two drugs to the DOT required testing beginning May 2010. The changes are as follows:

Lower Initial Test and Confirmation Levels for:

• Cocaine Metabolite from Initial 300ng/mL to 150ng/mL Confirmation 100ng/ML
• Amphetamines from 1000ng/mL to 500ng/mL Confirmation to 250ng/mL

Required New Initial Testing and Confirmation:

• 6acetyl-morphine (Heroin)(independent of the opiate and/or morphine confirmation) Initial Testing 10 ng/mL Confirmation 10ng/mL
• Ecstasy (inludes MDA, MDMA, MDEA) Initial Testing 500ng/mL Confirmation 250ng

Mandatory for Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up Testing Beginning August 31, 2009

On July 30, 2009, ODAPC published a Final Rule in the Federal Register which restores mandatory direct observation (DO) collections for all return-to-duty and follow-up testing. This DO drug testing rule is applicable to return-to-duty, safety-sensitive transportation industry employees who have already failed or refused to take a prior drug test.

The start date for mandatory DO for return-to-duty and follow-up testing is August 31, 2009. All employees who go for return-to-duty and follow-up tests on and after the effective date must have their collections observed. This includes employees currently in follow-up testing programs who will still be in those programs on and after August 31st.

Some employers and labor organizations may have entered into collective bargaining agreements that prohibit or limit the use of DO collections in return-to-duty and follow-up testing situations. When this final rule goes into effect, conducting all follow-up and return-to-duty testing using DO collections will be a requirement of Federal law.

Safety is the highest priority of the U.S. Department of Transportation and restoring our direct observation drug testing rules helps to support this mission. You can link to the Final Rule on the Federal Register website by clicking here

Shipping Changes

Due to the discontinued services of domestic ground by DHL, our labs have changed their Shipping Protocols to UPS (Medtox) or Fed Ex (Kroll). You may call the Lab to order shipping supplies. Please call our office should you like a copy of the new directions.

http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0811213700.aspx

A Final Rule will be published in the Federal Register, Thursday, November 20, 2008, dealing with 40.67(b) - direct observation for return-to-duty and follow-up testing.

You can access that document by clicking here or copy and paste the following: http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-27617_PI.pdf