Short Answer

DOT drug and alcohol testing relies on two standardized federal forms: the Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF) for drug tests and the Alcohol Testing Form (ATF) for alcohol tests. Both forms document the testing event and preserve chain of custody so that a result can be verified and defended later. The current, official versions of these forms are published by DOT's Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) and, for the CCF, by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Anyone who needs the current form itself, including its exact revision date and layout, should obtain it from those official sources rather than a reproduction.

Forms Used in the Return to Duty Process

Federal Custody and Control Form (CCF)

The form completed by the collector at every step of a DOT urine or oral fluid drug test. It documents chain of custody from collection through laboratory testing and, where applicable, Medical Review Officer review. It is a multi-copy form, with copies distributed to the laboratory, the MRO, the employer, and the employee.

Alcohol Testing Form (ATF)

The form completed by the BAT or STT during a DOT alcohol test. It documents the screening test result and, if a confirmation test is required, the confirmation test result, along with the required waiting period and equipment checks.

Why Standardized Forms Matter

Because the CCF and ATF are used nationwide by every employer, collector, laboratory, and MRO in the DOT program, a properly completed form allows any reviewer, including an MRO, a SAP, or a DOT agency investigator, to reconstruct exactly what happened during a test. A missing signature or an outdated form version can create a correctable or fatal flaw that cancels the test, which is why the collection process places such weight on completing these forms correctly.

Applicable Regulations and Sources

• Chain of custody documentation using the Federal CCF is defined and required by 49 CFR § 40.3.
• The current official CCF and ATF, including revision dates, are published and maintained through transportation.gov/odapc and, for the CCF, through HHS. Readers should obtain the current form directly from these official sources.

Professional Observation

In my experience, employees are often surprised at how much weight a single form carries. A signature omitted in the wrong place, or a form that was expired at the time of collection, can turn into a dispute about whether the test itself is valid. Treating the paperwork step of a collection as seriously as the specimen itself avoids unnecessary complications later.

Related Articles

• DOT Drug Testing Process
• DOT Alcohol Testing Process
• What Is an Observed Collection?
• How Laboratory Testing Works
• Official Government Resources for the DOT Return to Duty Process

Primary Authorities and Sources

• 49 CFR § 40.3, Definitions (chain of custody)
• transportation.gov/odapc (current DOT forms and guidance)

Need Help Reviewing Your Testing Paperwork?

If you have a question about a form used in your own testing process, a DOT qualified Substance Abuse Professional can help you understand what it means.

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