During the last couple of years I have been dealing with companies and EAP programs that have been using SAPs for their alcohol and drug assessments I will explain my knowledge of the regulations and the SAP's role in the process to give the readers an understanding of the new transportation regulations. The actual regulations are from the American Department of Transportation and they first included the Canadian Transportation industry on July 1, 1996. It was then that Canadian transportation companies had to start complying with the American regulations. The regulations that govern the transportation industry have originated and are monitored from the U.S. and not Canada. Canadians did not make these rules but they are obliged to follow them.
Canadian companies comply for economic reasons.
Our government talked about similar legislation but has not pursued it. If Canadian transportation companies do business in the U.S. , then they must comply with the American rules or face the possibility large fines. No smart business wants to waste money for fines so all Canadian companies that have drivers going to U.S. destination must use the same procedures that American companies are told to use. That means that the same basic procedures are being carried out in the exact same way in both countries. The same drugs are tested for and the procedures must remain the same or they do not qualify as fulfilling the rules.