Since the majority of jobs on offer are at their retail stores, we’ll start off by answering the most common question – does Dollar General drug test for retail positions?
Dollar General employs more than 164,000 staff across its 18,000 stores, 28 distribution centers, and large delivery fleet.
Job openings are plentiful, but before you apply, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with Dollar General’s drug testing policy.
In this article, we’ll go over the pre-employment drug testing requirements for Dollar General stores, distribution centers, and delivery fleets, and we’ll look at when you can expect to be tested again once you’re hired.
Does Dollar General Drug Test For Retail Positions in 2025?
Dollar General has a drug-free workplace policy, but according to employees they no longer require a pre-employment drug test for store associate or cashier positions.
That’s good news because not needing to worry about passing a drug test makes the hiring process a lot less stressful. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can use drugs to calm your nerves before your interview.
Dollar General managers want to hire productive workers, and if you appear even a little intoxicated or smell weed when you arrive for your interview, you’ll be shown the door.
Speaking of managers, when you apply for an assistant manager, store manager, or district manager position, you should be prepared to take a drug test. Associates promoted to key holder positions are also subject to a drug test.
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Do You Have To Pass A Drug Test To Work At Dollar General For Distribution Center Positions?
If you apply to work at one of Dollar General’s distribution centers, you’ll need to take a drug test. The drug test won’t take place at your interview, instead, you’ll be asked to take a drug test at a local clinic within 48 hours of accepting a conditional offer of employment.
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Will You Be Drug Tested For Driving Positions?
To drive for the Dollar General fleet, you’ll need to hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL). CDL driving positions are regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT), and their regulations state that all CDL holders must pass a drug test before they can drive for a new employer.
In addition to a pre-employment drug test, you’ll be subject to mandatory random drug and alcohol testing.
A random drug test can take place at any time, even when you’re off duty, but a random alcohol test can only be carried out while you’re working, just prior to work, or just after you finish working.
Drivers are also required to comply with reasonable cause and post-accident drug testing procedures.
Dollar General runs a CDL training program for distribution center workers. If you’re offered the opportunity to take part in the program, you’ll be paid while you train for your CDL class A license.
CDL drivers at Dollar General earn up to $90,000 per year, but you’ll need a drug‐free lifestyle if you want to drive a truck.
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Does Dollar General Drug Test Employees?
Once you’re hired to work at Dollar General, you’ll need to follow their drug and alcohol use policy. The policy prohibits drug or alcohol use on company property, and you can’t be under the influence of intoxicating substances at any time during your shift.
To enforce that policy, Dollar General may make use of random drug testing, reasonable cause drug testing, and post-accident drug testing.
Random Drug Testing
While random drug testing is mentioned in the company drug testing policy, employees say it’s unheard of in stores and warehouses.
The company is desperate for workers and they have a high staff turnover rate, so even though it’s in the policy, a random drug test is extremely unlikely.
CDL drivers are subject to random drug and alcohol testing as mandated by the DOT.
Reasonable Cause Drug Tests
Company policy allows your manager to ask you to take a drug test if they suspect that you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Store employees report that a lot of managers ignore signs of drug use as long as the work gets done, and the store that you work at may have that kind of manager. This may encourage you to throw caution to the wind and ignore the drug-free workplace policy.
But you should know that Dollar General has an employee response center and a risk management hotline. The Dollar General employee handbook includes a requirement for all employees to report behavior that violates company policy.
How could that affect you?
If you’re high or stoned at work and a coworker decides to go over your manager’s head and report you using either of those channels, then the report has to be investigated. Your district manager could arrive soon afterward and order you to take an immediate drug test.
Customers can also complain to a store manager about suspected drug use, which could trigger a drug test even though your manager may have otherwise ignored your behavior.
At Dollar General distribution centers, managers don’t take any safety risks, so a reasonable cause drug test is very likely if you show any signs of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
What kind of behavior could lead to a reasonable cause drug test?
- Smelling of drugs
- Slurred speech
- Unsteady movements
- Inability to carry out simple tasks
- Erratic behavior
- Aggressive or other overly emotional behavior
Post-Accident Drug Tests
If you have an accident that requires medical attention or damages company property, you’ll need to take a drug test. Post-accident drug tests are enforced because accidents cost Dollar General and their insurers money.
If you test positive for drugs after an accident, you can be fired and your employer can deny you workers’ comp benefits, injury compensation, and unemployment benefits.
A dollar store might not seem like a hazardous workplace but accidents do happen.
You can slip on a wet floor after a spill in the grocery aisle, fall off a ladder retrieving overhead stock, or injure yourself moving stock and unloading delivery trucks.
When you’re working with stock, the sharp box cutter used to open boxes can cut deep enough to require stitches if you don’t watch what you’re doing.
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What Type Of Drug Test Does Dollar General Do?
Drug tests at Dollar General are 5-panel urine screens. If you’ve never taken a drug test before let’s run through the process.
First of all, what’s a 5-panel drug screen? A 5-panel screen is simply the test they run to look for the most commonly abused illegal drugs. Your urine sample will be tested for:
- Opiates
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Amphetamines
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
Opiates, cocaine, and amphetamine clear your system fairly quickly and won’t be detectable 4 days after last use. Phencyclidine can show up on a urine test for as long as 14 days, and marijuana can still be present 90 days after the last use.
As you can see, marijuana is the drug most likely to cause you problems and now that it’s legal in so many states, drug testing companies have seen a big jump in the number of samples testing positive for marijuana.
To pass a drug test, you’ll need to stop using marijuana for a while. The length of time you’ll need to wait before you’re clear of marijuana depends on your level of drug use, your metabolism, and your level of body fat, but you can use these estimates as a general guide.
- 1-time use – 5 to 8 days
- 2 to 4 times a month – 11 to 18 days
- 2 to 4 times a week – 23 to 35 days
- 5 to 6 times a week – 33 to 48 days
- Daily use – 49 to 90 days
The best way to know when you’re in the clear is to take a DIY drug test. For example, if you smoke or eat a moderate amount of marijuana twice a week, abstain for 3 weeks, then test yourself.
If you’re still positive, wait another week, then test again. Each testing kit comes with several tests so you can keep testing until you get a negative result.
The Dollar General drug test itself is very straightforward. When you arrive at the testing location, you’ll need to show your ID and your drug testing paperwork.
Then you’ll be asked to take off your coat and empty your pockets. Next, you’ll be given a sample cup and directed to a private bathroom.
The technician will tell you how much urine they need – it’s usually around 45 ml – and as long as you produce enough, the sample collection is complete.
The temperature of your sample will be checked to make sure you haven’t diluted it with water, then it will be sent off to the lab.
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Can You Use Medical Marijuana At Dollar General?
While medical marijuana may be legal in your state, it’s still an illegal drug at the federal level and most employers use the federal classification for their drug use policies.
Dollar General doesn’t have any provisions for medical marijuana users, and if you’re asked to take a drug test and fail the test because of marijuana, you’ll be in violation of their drug-free workplace policy.
Frequent-Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do You Have To Pass A Drug Test For Dollar General?
For entry-level store positions, you won’t need to pass a drug test, although candidates for management roles will be asked to take a drug test. If you’re applying for a distribution center position or a truck driving job, you’ll need to pass a drug test.
Does Dollar General Do Urine Tests?
Yes, if you’re asked to take a drug test, it will be a urine test. Drug tests are carried out at a local clinic or other collection facility and then sent to a lab for processing.
Does The Dollar Store Drug Test Employees?
All employees are subject to reasonable cause drug testing and post-accident drug testing. The drug testing policy includes random drug testing, but unless you’re driving a truck for Dollar General, a random drug test is unlikely. Failing a drug test is grounds for dismissal.
Does Dollar General Drug Test For Key Holder?
Yes, you’ll need to pass a drug test if apply for a key holder position or if you’re promoted to a key holder position.
At Dollar General, you’ll be asked to provide a urine sample which will be tested for opiates, cocaine, amphetamine, marijuana, and phencyclidine.
Here’s Your Quick Recap
If you’re applying for one of the numerous entry-level retail positions, you won’t need to take a drug test during the Dollar General hiring process.
Applicants for management positions, distribution center roles, and truck driving jobs will need to take pre-employment drug tests once a conditional job offer has been accepted.
Drug tests take place at a local clinic or sample collection facility. You’ll need to provide a urine sample which will be checked for illegal substances using a standard 5-panel drug screen.
As a Dollar General employee, you’ll be subject to random drug testing, reasonable cause drug testing, and post-accident drug testing. If you fail a drug test, you’ll lose your job.
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Robert Eric (a lover of Cats and Dogs) is the co-founder of HireFelonsJobs. In our search for a better life, after… A platform was created for the purpose of easing the search for ex-convicts.