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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Drug Use Biggest Safety Issue To Trucking — Trucking Alliance

 

CEO and Chairman of Maverick USA, Steve Williams, said in a statement, “More truck drivers lost their lives in 2017, than in any year in the previous 10 years. We must aggressively address these tragic figures.”

The Trucking Alliance (The group represents some of the nation’s largest carriers including; J.B. Hunt, Knight Swift, and U.S. Xpress.) recently called illegal drug use among commercial drivers the biggest safety issue currently facing the industry and asked the federal government to allow fleets to administer hair testing.

The Alliance specifically asked Congress to pressure the Department of Health and Human Services to complete hair test guidelines, so the DOT can officially recognize hair testing for pre-employment screenings.

The group also compared the pre-employment drug test results of 151,662 trucker applicants who were asked to submit to two drug tests—urinalysis and hair analysis. While 94% of the applicants tested drug-free, thousands failed either or both tests.

“Put another way, the urinalysis missed 9 out of 10 actual illicit drug users,” said the Alliance.

The most prevalent drug was cocaine, followed by opioids and marijuana.

“Applicants who failed or refused the hair test were disqualified for employment at these companies, but likely obtained the same job elsewhere, at companies that administer only a urinalysis,” the Alliance said.

As part of its written testimony, the Alliance recommended:

  • Eliminating exemptions allowing fleets to avoid installing ELDs
  • Requiring a person to be at least 21 years of age to operate a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce
  • Mandating a new federal safety standard that would require all large commercial trucks to maintain a maximum speed limit of 65 mph on the nation’s highways
  • Requiring collision mitigation systems installed in commercial trucks