How Can I Find a SAP I Can Trust?

3 hours ago

6 min read

You do not have to choose a SAP blindly.

GetOutOfProhibited.com maintains a SAP Resource List of Substance Abuse Professionals we know and trust as resources for drivers going through the DOT Return-to-Duty process.

Find a SAP on the GetOutOfProhibited.com SAP Resource List

Even when using a trusted resource list, we encourage drivers to speak with the SAP before beginning the evaluation. Ask about the SAP's qualifications, experience, fees, communication process, whether evaluations are virtual or in person, and what you should expect after your initial evaluation.

The goal is not to find someone who promises the easiest process. The goal is to work with a qualified professional who will help you complete the process correctly.

Why Drivers Need to Be Careful About SAP Fraud

Fraud involving SAP services and the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is not just something drivers hear about on social media.

FMCSA has issued an official fraud alert about fraudulent SAP activity involving the Clearinghouse.

FMCSA warns that scammers have convinced commercial drivers to provide information such as their CDL number, date of birth, first name and last name. In some cases, scammers claim to be SAPs who can resolve Clearinghouse violations or claim they can report negative drug test results for tests that never occurred.

Once scammers obtain a driver's information, FMCSA warns that the information can be used to enter fraudulent drug and alcohol violations and demand payment from the driver.

Read FMCSA's Official Fraud Alert: Fraudulent SAPs Entering False Clearinghouse Violations

This is one reason we tell drivers:

Do not give your CDL number, date of birth or other sensitive information to someone simply because they say they can fix your Clearinghouse.

Know who you are dealing with first.

A Real Case: When People Pretended to Be SAPs

In March 2026, FreightWaves published an investigation into alleged fraudulent activity involving people reportedly operating as SAPs or participating in a network that manipulated Return-to-Duty information in the FMCSA Clearinghouse.

The investigation described a troubling situation: drivers in Prohibited status were allegedly being offered extremely fast "clearances" of their Clearinghouse records for payments ranging from approximately $100 to $500.

According to the FreightWaves investigation, some offers advertised completing Clearinghouse steps within minutes, without the driver completing the legitimate SAP evaluation, required education or treatment, or Return-to-Duty drug testing that the federal process requires.

Read the FreightWaves Investigation: Clearinghouse Fraud Putting Drugged Drivers Back on the Road

The investigation reported that people without verified clinical credentials allegedly gained access to the Clearinghouse and entered Return-to-Duty information for prohibited drivers.

One of the individuals highlighted in the investigation was Brandon Blackburn.

According to FreightWaves, Blackburn had previously gone through the Return-to-Duty process himself and was later allegedly involved in clearing other drivers. The investigation reported that Blackburn was subsequently arrested while operating a commercial vehicle with cocaine in the cab.

The larger lesson for drivers is not about one individual.

It is about understanding why the federal Return-to-Duty process exists in the first place.

The SAP process is not supposed to be six checkmarks that someone sells you.

It is a safety process.

A legitimate Return-to-Duty process involves an evaluation by a qualified SAP, completion of the SAP's education and/or treatment recommendations, a follow-up evaluation, and the appropriate Return-to-Duty testing before a driver can return to a DOT safety-sensitive position.

If someone tells you:

"Give me $300 and I'll get all six steps cleared today."

Stop.

Ask questions.

Research the person.

And understand exactly what is being entered into your federal Clearinghouse record.

Why "I'll Clear Your Clearinghouse in Five Minutes" Is a Major Red Flag

One of the most concerning findings reported in the FreightWaves investigation involved advertisements allegedly promising drivers that their Clearinghouse status could be changed within minutes.

That should immediately raise questions.

Your Return-to-Duty process is not simply an administrative transaction.

A qualified SAP must evaluate you.

The SAP must determine the appropriate education and/or treatment.

You must successfully comply with those recommendations.

The SAP must conduct the required follow-up evaluation.

Then, when you are eligible, the Return-to-Duty drug and/or alcohol test must actually occur and meet DOT requirements.

Someone cannot legitimately replace those requirements with a payment and a few computer entries.

A green Clearinghouse dashboard does not make a fraudulent process legitimate.

What Should I Do If Someone Offers to Clear My Clearinghouse for Money?

There is a difference between paying legitimate professionals for services required during the Return-to-Duty process and paying someone who claims they can manipulate your Clearinghouse record.

SAP evaluations cost money.

Education or treatment may cost money.

Return-to-Duty testing costs money.

C/TPA services may cost money.

Follow-Up Testing costs money.

Those are legitimate professional services.

What should concern you is someone offering to skip the services entirely and simply change what appears in the Clearinghouse.

If someone says they can report a test you never took, complete SAP steps you never completed, or instantly change your Clearinghouse record without following the required process, do not proceed simply because the offer sounds convenient.

Before You Pay a SAP, Ask These Questions

Before scheduling your initial SAP evaluation, ask:

Are you currently qualified to perform DOT SAP evaluations?
What professional credential do you hold?
Will you personally conduct my evaluation?
How long have you worked with DOT-regulated employees?
Is my evaluation virtual or in person?
What does your fee include?
Is the follow-up evaluation included?
How will you communicate my recommendations to me?
What happens after I complete my education or treatment?
How can I contact you if I have questions during the process?

You are not asking these questions because you are trying to challenge the SAP.

You are asking because this person will be making important professional determinations in your federal Return-to-Duty process.

You should know who you are working with.

Where Can I Find a Reputable DOT SAP?

If you need help locating a SAP, GetOutOfProhibited.com maintains a SAP Resource List for drivers looking for professionals they can contact about beginning the SAP portion of the Return-to-Duty process.

View Our SAP Resource List

We encourage drivers to research their options, speak directly with the SAP, ask questions and understand the services before beginning their evaluation.

Remember: do this research before your first SAP evaluation.

Once you have been evaluated by a SAP, DOT regulations generally do not allow you to simply seek another SAP evaluation because you disagree with the first SAP's recommendations.

What Drivers Need to Know

If you failed or refused a DOT drug or alcohol test, your first instinct may be:

"How fast can I get out of Prohibited status?"

A better question is:

"How do I complete this process correctly so I can get back to work and protect my CDL?"

There are legitimate professionals who can help you.

There are also people who understand that a driver who suddenly cannot work may be scared, confused and financially vulnerable.

That urgency can make a promise such as "I can clear your Clearinghouse today" sound appealing.

Do not let urgency prevent you from doing your research.

Your CDL is your livelihood.

Your Clearinghouse record follows you.

Know who you are giving your information to.

Know what services you are paying for.

And never pay someone to report something to the federal government that did not actually happen.

Need a SAP? Start With a Trusted Resource

If you are at the beginning of your Return-to-Duty process and need to locate a Substance Abuse Professional, you can start with the SAP resources available through GetOutOfProhibited.com.

Find a SAP Counselor

If you are unsure which step you are on or what you need to do after completing your SAP requirements, our team can also help you understand the next part of the process.

GetOutOfProhibited.com: Return-to-Duty Support for CDL Drivers

GetOutOfProhibited.com is a full-service Consortium/Third-Party Administrator (C/TPA) supporting CDL drivers and transportation employers with the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and DOT Return-to-Duty process.

We help drivers understand what happens after a failed or refused DOT drug or alcohol test and what they need to do to work toward getting their commercial driving privileges back in good standing.

Our services and resources include: