READI Network - Tutorials

Services

The READI Network provides various coverages, use the links below to learn more about the coverage provided by the READI Network.

Videos

Using the videos below you can learn more about the READI Network, the various services provided by the network, and how to set up your coverage.

FAQs

  • What is the READI Network?

    The READI network is based on a patented technology that connects a nationwide network of professional investigators, drug and alcohol specimen collectors, attorneys, and roadside repair companies to our patented mobile app.

    The READI Network and platform were developed by Kevin W. McClain, a highly qualified and experienced accident investigator.

    To know more about the READI Network here.

  • What services does READI provide?

    The READI Network provides various coverages:

    • READI Response provides comprehensive accident investigations on-site
    • READI Repair provides fast and reliable on-site repairs (to come late 2024)
    • READI Collect provides rapid on-site drug and alcohol testing.
    • READI Legal provides fast attorney client connection so you have a dedicated legal team on your side from the very beginning (to come late 2024).

  • How do I get covered by the READI Network?

    You just simply need to Sign Up Here to create a new company or team in the READI Network and then get the READI App on all of your team members.

    Please check our Videos above and follow through with all the videos provided there.

  • How do I join the READI Network as a responder?

    If you are interested in joining the READI Network as an accident investigator, drug and alcohol specimen collector, tow and/or repair company or attorney or legal firm, please contact READI for more information. Contact us today for more information.

    If you are a team manager of a responder network (collectors, investigators…) you would sign up and add your team as collectors/responders role.

    To better understand the process, please watch our MODULE 2: CREATING USERS tutorial.

    To better understand the whole process of how the READI Network system works, we suggest that you go through all the training videos at the top of this page.

  • How do I contact the READI Network?

    If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here.

  • How do I create/request an incident response?

    The primary way an incident is created and a responder requested is through the READI App. An administrator of a company can create an incident from the web portal where they can create an incident, assign a reporter (person/driver that had an accident), and this will send out a request to all local responders. A team manager will also have visibility of all incidents initiated by their team members/drivers.

    To better understand the process, please watch our MODULE 3: MANAGING INCIDENTS tutorial.

    To better understand the whole process of how the READI Network system works, we suggest that you go through all the training videos above.

  • How much does coverage cost?

    The Readi Network currently consists of READI Response, the accident investigator network and Readi Collect the drug and alcohol collector network. These services can be purchased separately or together as a bundle. There is a base annual fee and additional cost for each of your employees/users.

    Click on the Pricing link above to see our current pricing.

  • Do I need READI coverage?

    To better understand why you need READI coverage, please WATCH THIS VIDEO.

    • READI Collect

  • Why Should me and my company be a member of READI Collect?

    READI Collect is the only effective way to get a post-accident drug and especially alcohol test done within the DOT-required time frame.

    READI Collect’s comprehensive drug-testing program ensures the fastest response to a post-accident test request. This allows you to rest easy that you have the best chance of meeting all the criteria for a DOT-required post-accident drug and alcohol test.

    For more information watch this video.

  • How does the patented READI Collect post-accident drug testing work?

    Immediately following a vehicle or workplace accident, the driver, employee or employer-designated employee representative (DER) will activate their Readi Collect APP or web Portal and request a test.

    The patented Readi Collect APP sends out a GEO-referenced service request to our nationwide network of available mobile collection specialists that respond immediately and get to you or your employee’s location, FAST 24/7/365.

    This mobile aspect is especially important for employers who are regulated by the Department of Transportation because their drivers are often alone and far from the office. It’s also important for employers in construction, oil and gas, railroad, and other industries where employees work in remote locations.

    Regardless of the circumstances, an employee’s medical care should never be delayed while supervisors spend precious minutes and hours tracking down a mobile collector, especially after normal working hours and weekends. Readi Collect effortlessly determines what test is required and finds the closest mobile collection specialist and routes them to the scene in record time.

    Registered Readi Collect users will have access to reports about the test including minute-by-minute status, digital copies of the required forms, and notification of a final result. All of this can be seen in real-time on the Readi Collect APP and the web portal.

  • Who is required to receive DOT-regulated post-accident drug testing?

    Only companies regulated by the Department of Transportation and those that work for the federal government in safety-sensitive positions are required to conduct post-accident drug testing, but many employers who don’t fit these criteria still do. This is because it helps to discourage drug use, encourage a safer workplace, and as part of a comprehensive drug-testing program, reduce workers’ compensation, general liability, and vehicle insurance rates.

    For DOT-regulated employers:

    • After initiating a service request in the READI Collect APP or web portal, we will dispatch a collector immediately, and in most cases, they will arrive on the scene within two hours. This is well within the requirements of 49 CFR parts 40 and 382 which state that a DOT alcohol test must be conducted within eight hours, but ideally two, and a DOT drug test must be conducted within 32 hours of a workplace accident.
    • Per the DOT (49 CFR 382, Subpart C) related post-accident drug tests must require an expanded panel including four additional semi-synthetic opioids that are frequently abused. These substances include:
      • hydrocodone
      • hydromorphone
      • oxymorphone
      • oxycodone
      • Amphetamines
      • Cocaine
      • Marijuana (THC)
      • Opiates
      • PCP
    • Currently, DOT regulations only allow for a breathalyzer/breath alcohol test or an oral fluid / mouth swab for alcohol testing, but if the oral swab test shows ANY alcohol an evidentiary Breath alcohol test (eBAT) is required, and urinalysis for drug testing.

    For everyone else (Non-DOT drug testing)

    • Although not required to follow DOT regulations, these employers are still encouraged to conduct post-accident drug testing as soon as it is practical after an accident.  Ideally, this should be within two to three hours. There’s an important reason for this. The longer you wait, the less likely you will be to identify breath alcohol levels and/or drug metabolites. This means that even though employee drug use may be the cause of a workplace accident, the employer could still be held financially and/or legally responsible if the drug and/or alcohol use is confirmed by a timely test.
    • Employers conducting a non-DOT post-accident drug test are free to include as few, or as many drugs as they want to test for, but the standard DOT panel is recommended because it includes the most commonly used drugs. You are also free to utilize any testing method, including urinalysis, oral fluid / mouth swab, and hair drug testing. You are required to have a company drug and alcohol testing policy in place and all covered employees educated and applicable employees trained per the policy. See more below.
    • Note: Urgency of alcohol testing is critical because breath alcohol levels drop off quickly. If you wait too long, an employee who was under the influence of alcohol could test negative for alcohol impairment leaving you liable for the damages.

  • Do You have any Post-accident drug testing program guidelines?

    Implement and enforce a written drug testing policy

    You are required to have a company drug and alcohol testing policy in place and all covered employees educated and applicable employees trained per the policy. Your drug testing policy should contain a statement that all employees are subject to drug testing—including post-accident drug testing—and that a refusal to take a drug screen will result in a presumption that the test would have been positive. Furthermore, the drug policy should be signed by the employee and be universally enforced. If the policy is not enforced, the claimant can effectively argue that no valid policy exists.

    Conduct training and education

    Your drug testing policy must have a training and education component. Employees and supervisors must understand your drug testing policy, the consequences of violating it, and the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. Supervisors must also be able to decide to initiate reasonable suspicion drug testing.

    For any DOT-mandated testing for reasonable suspicion, the supervisor must have completed an approved training course and have a copy of the certificate on hand.

    Conduct drug testing immediately following the accident

    Post-accident drug testing must be conducted immediately, even after even minor accidents. A court can deny the intoxication presumption if the test occurs too late after the accident. The workplace drug test must strictly follow your company’s documented drug testing policy and federal and State law, identify any substances used, and quantify the drug and/or alcohol levels.

    Take written statements immediately following the accident

    In a written, signed statement, an employee should state whether they have consumed any alcohol within 24 hours of the accident, or any non-prescribed controlled substances, within 30 days of the accident. If you suspect drug or alcohol use by the injured employee, ask coworkers whether they noticed any unusual behavior and obtain written statements if they have. Never discuss the results of any drug tests with the injured worker’s co-workers.

    Note: Due to HIPAA regulations, employers should not ask an employees if they have consumed a controlled substance that has been prescribed to them due to potential legal issues that may cause.

    Approve emergency care immediately

    The injured employee is entitled to reasonable emergency medical care until he is stabilized or discharged.

    Do not encourage the use of drugs or alcohol

    An exception to the intoxication defense occurs when employers provide a substance or intoxicating beverage and encourage its use, or if the intoxication occurs in pursuit of the employer’s interest. Have a written drug testing policy against using alcohol, even at work-related activities.

    Readi Response Accident investigations

    We encourage you to register with Readi Response as an additional layer of protection. Readi Response will dispatch a certified accident investigator to the scene in record time using the same Geofencing technology as the Readi Collect APP that will collect critical digital information that will substantiate all of the details of the accident. Click here to learn more and register with Readi Response.

  • What are the different methods used for post-accident drug testing?

    Several different tests can be used, although some states or federal guidelines dictate which types of tests can be conducted. Urine is the most commonly used specimen for illicit drugs (DOT guidelines), and breath (BAT) is the most common for alcohol (DOT guidelines).

  • Is oral fluid (saliva) a good choice for post-accident drug testing?

    Oral fluid is an appropriate choice for post-accident testing because it can detect recent drug use but as of August 15th, 2024, Urine testing is the only federally approved test for DOT-covered CDL holders.

    Saliva testing for NON-DOT tests requires only a small sample that is collected under direct supervision and is considered a tamper-resistant screening method in that it is hard for the employee to cheat or adulterate the sample. It also doesn’t require the employee to leave the site for collection. It can be done onsite by a Supervisor or trained staff member.

  • What drugs are detected in post-accident testing?

    According to SAMHSA’s guidelines, testing should check for the five illicit drugs (amphetamines, THC, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine) and alcohol.

    However, companies are not limited in the number of substances they can test for in any non-DOT covered situations and may include drugs that employees take on a prescription basis but must be clearly spelled out in an authorized company policy on drug and al; alcohol testing.

  • How soon should employees be tested following an accident?

    Alcohol tests are more time-sensitive and should be performed within two to three hours, not to exceed eight hours due to the short duration of time that alcohol remains in a person’s system. Drug tests should be performed as soon as possible and up to thirty-two hours after the accident occurred.

  • What if the employee cannot be tested during the standard timeframe?

    If the employee cannot be tested during the standard timeframes, then the employee should not be tested. Companies should record the reason the test was not performed and keep documentation for their records.

    Each company policy should dictate the course of action followed if testing cannot be performed.

    Of course, this is where Readi Collect is at its best giving every carrier the best chance of meeting these strict requirements and if not you will have a very detailed report of the efforts you made to get the test done. This is the best way to satisfy an auditor’s inquiries.

  • What if an employee refuses to take a test?

    An employee who refuses a post-accident test when requested should be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to the company’s guidelines. Refusal to submit to a test includes:

    • Failure to provide adequate breath for testing without a valid medical explanation
    • Failure to provide adequate urine for testing without a valid medical explanation
    • Engaging in conduct that hinders or invalidates the testing process
    • Leaving the scene of an accident

  • How are off-site accidents handled?

    The easy answer is to have the Readi Collect app on all of your driver’s phones and make sure they have all watched the tutorials and have had proper training on the company policy pertaining to post-accident procedures.

    When you have the Readi Network on your team this procedure becomes very streamlined. After an accident, open the Readi App, follow your company policy and the in-app instructions that will answer all the tough questions, and get you connected with a professional collector in minutes.

    We can’t say it enough, the Readi Network App is only one part of any company’s post-accident protocol. Always follow your company policy, and your supervisor/employer and use the Readi App in accordance with these policies.

  • How does post-accident testing work?

    Post-accident procedures should be outlined in a company’s drug and alcohol testing/Substance Abuse Policy. A good policy that covers all of the federal requirements is available from Labworks USA. If you also have non-DOT covered employees that perform safety-sensitive functions, then be sure to adopt your state and local testing requirements and restrictions.

    Most companies put a requirement in place to report all accidents to a designated company representative who will then assess whether testing should be conducted. When you have the Readi App you will be presented with the decision tree to determine if you need a DOT post-accident test taking the guesswork out of the equation and saving precious time. If an accident or incident occurs that meets the established criteria for testing.

    The Readi Network will connect you with our network of collectors. If a collector is not available, safe transportation to the testing facility should be provided and outlined in the company guidelines. An order should be placed for a drug test within your drug screening partner’s system (like Labworks USA, the nations top DOT drug and alcohol testing consortium) or a phone call should be made to the closest testing facility to inform them that an employee will be arriving for post-accident testing making sure the facility has the capability to conduct the required testing prior to wasting time traveling there. A detailed report should be completed as soon as possible and kept in accordance with company policy.

  • May a company conduct post-accident testing for all accidents that occur?

    When you have the Readi App you will be presented with the decision tree to determine if you need a DOT post-accident test taking the guesswork out of the equation and saving precious time. If an accident or incident occurs that meets the established criteria for testing.

    Drug testing policies limit post-accident testing to situations in which the employer has a reasonable suspicion that the employee was impaired at the time of the accident and the accident was directly caused due to the employee’s impaired state.

    In addition, drug testing that is designed in a way that may be perceived as punitive or embarrassing to the employee is likely to deter injury reporting.

    Any drug and/or alcohol testing of employees should be clearly stated in your company policy and each covered employee should have received training on and received a copy of the policy as well as signing it and the employer retaining a copy of the signature page.

  • Can an employee return to work after the test?

    When post-accident testing is conducted, it is a good idea for employers not to allow employees involved in an accident to return to work prior to the receipt of the testing results if the employee is safe to return.