Does Landstar Drug Test?

Drug Testing by Position

Drug Test Type and Process

Landstar drivers take the standard DOT drug test — a laboratory-based urine screen defined by 49 CFR Part 40. The DOT 5-panel checks for marijuana (THC), cocaine, opiates (including heroin, codeine, morphine), amphetamines and methamphetamine, and PCP. A specimen is collected at a certified clinic, sent to a SAMHSA-certified lab, and reviewed by a Medical Review Officer before results are reported. Before your first dispatch, Landstar must have a verified negative result AND a completed FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse query confirming you have no unresolved violation. As a leased BCO you are also enrolled in a random testing pool (a consortium/C-TPA) for the duration of your lease, so testing does not stop after hire.

Marijuana Policy

Marijuana is not negotiable for CDL drivers. Under federal law, marijuana remains a Schedule I substance, and DOT rules prohibit its use by safety-sensitive transportation employees — even in states where recreational or medical cannabis is legal, and even with a medical card. A DOT Medical Review Officer cannot accept a state medical-marijuana authorization as a valid explanation for a positive THC result. CBD is risky too: many CBD products contain enough THC to trigger a positive, and DOT has warned drivers that using CBD is at their own risk. A positive test (or refusal) goes into the FMCSA Clearinghouse and bars you from driving until you complete the return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional.

Tips for Applicants

Landstar leases to experienced drivers — you generally need to be at least 23, hold a valid CDL, and own or be purchasing your own tractor (Landstar supplies many trailer types at no rental fee). Before you apply, check your own FMCSA Clearinghouse record so there are no surprises; you can register for free at the Clearinghouse site. If you have an old positive or refusal on file, you must finish the return-to-duty process before any carrier can put you to work. Avoid all THC products, including 'hemp' and CBD, in the weeks before testing. Non-driving Landstar roles (agents, corporate staff) are not DOT-covered, so if a clean DOT test is a barrier right now, those paths carry far less testing risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Landstar drug test owner-operators (BCOs)?

Yes. Leased owner-operators (Business Capacity Owners) drive commercial vehicles under a CDL, so they must pass a DOT pre-employment urine drug test and clear the FMCSA Clearinghouse before their first load, plus random and post-accident testing after that.

Does Landstar drug test for weed?

Yes. The DOT 5-panel test includes marijuana (THC). Because drivers are federally regulated, a positive is disqualifying even in states where marijuana is legal and even with a medical card. Avoid THC and CBD products before testing.

What kind of drug test does Landstar use?

The DOT-mandated 5-panel urine test collected at a certified clinic and reviewed by a Medical Review Officer. It screens for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines/methamphetamine, and PCP.

Does Landstar do random drug tests?

Yes. Federal rules require carriers to randomly test a percentage of their CDL drivers each year for drugs and alcohol. As a leased BCO you stay in a random testing pool the whole time you are under lease.

What is the FMCSA Clearinghouse and why does it matter for Landstar?

The FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse is a federal database of drivers' drug and alcohol violations. Landstar must query it before you drive; an unresolved violation blocks you until you complete the return-to-duty process with a Substance Abuse Professional.

Do Landstar corporate or agent jobs require a drug test?

Far less often. Independent Landstar agents and corporate/office roles are not DOT safety-sensitive positions, so mandatory pre-employment DOT testing does not apply. Any testing there would follow company policy, not federal trucking rules.