As worksites compete for contractor labor and fight to keep projects on schedule, even small access delays can ripple into bigger staffing and start-date problems. A new TEAM survey points to where that friction lives. The TEAM 2026 Contractor Compliance Bottleneck Survey found 94% of contractors say site access delays are driven by process issues rather than the requirements themselves.
The TEAM 2026 Contractor Compliance Bottleneck Survey was conducted in March 2026 via the third-party platform Pollfish among 600 U.S.-based adults working for contractor or subcontractor organizations in oil and gas, construction and healthcare. Respondents qualified by completing operator-required compliance steps to access a jobsite or facility at least once in the past 12 months. The study assessed where site access and clearance-to-work processes create delays and rework and how those disruptions affect job acceptance decisions.
Key findings from the report include:
- More than three in four contractors (76%) say clearance-to-work has delayed their planned start date at least once, including 35% who’ve been delayed two to three times.
- Among those who’ve had a delay, 45% say their most recent clearance-related delay lasted three days or longer, including 10% at six to 10 days and 3% at more than 10 days.
- The most cited delay reasons are waiting for results (55%) and waiting for approval or sign-off (47%), ahead of difficulty getting appointments soon enough (25%) and portal issues (23%).
- An overwhelming 94% agree that most site access delays are caused by process issues rather than the requirements themselves.
- Most say requirements are clear when they start (83% very or mostly clear), yet 83% also say they learn about additional requirements after starting at least sometimes, including 49% who say this happens often or very often.
- Nearly two in three (64%) have had to resubmit paperwork, retake a test or repeat an appointment at least twice, including 46% who report two to three times.
- Top drivers of rework include missing or incorrect paperwork (45%), a new requirement added mid-process (43%) and upload rejection (32%).
- Three in four (75%) say site access requirements require extra travel at least sometimes, including 37% who say often or almost always.
- Every respondent reports at least one out-of-pocket impact, most commonly travel costs (56%), lost or unpaid time (42%) and paying out of pocket for a test, physical or appointment (40%).
- Nearly four in 10 (39%) say a frustrating site access experience has made them avoid that site or operator for future jobs. If a site made access easier, 79% say they’d be more likely to accept work there.
The findings suggest most contractors accept the need for jobsite compliance safeguards, yet the day-to-day contractor onboarding process is still creating avoidable bottlenecks. When workforce mobilization depends on long waits for drug test results or background screening approvals, or when requirements change midstream, start dates get shaky and planning gets harder.
For operators and worksites that compete for contractor labor, clearance-to-work via the onboarding and screening experience is increasingly part of the employer brand. The TEAM 2026 Contractor Compliance Bottleneck Survey indicates that predictability, fewer surprise steps and fewer repeat trips can shape whether contractors accept future work, especially when unpaid time and out-of-pocket costs add up across onboarding cycles.
“You can have strong compliance standards and still run a process that respects people’s time,” said Tim Jenney, president of TEAM. “When crews are stuck waiting on results or approvals or get hit with new requirements midstream, start dates slide and costs pile up fast. This report shows there’s real room to tighten the workflow without lowering the bar.”
As contractor timelines tighten and projects depend on reliable mobilization, the data points to a practical opportunity: reduce cycle time and rework by improving ownership, handoffs and upfront clarity across the access workflow.
For the full results and additional insights, view The TEAM 2026 Contractor Compliance Bottleneck Survey.
About TEAM
TEAM is a nationally accredited provider of drug and alcohol testing, background checks, and compliance monitoring.
For more than 25 years, TEAM has helped employers in regulated industries safeguard their people, operations, and reputations. Today, businesses across industries trust TEAM’s in-house experts for fast, accurate screening backed by responsive, world-class service.
Accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) and honored seven years running as one of The Oklahoman’s Top Workplaces, TEAM is a trusted partner for building safer, stronger workplaces.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260428791562/en/
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