There are two new bills being introduced to Congress that could have a major impact on the shipping industry. These bills aim to continue to make it more difficult for lifestyle drug users to get jobs as commercial drivers by expanding the testing options that trucking companies have.
By furthering the effort to prevent drug users from gaining employment as drivers, hopefully these bills can continue to make America’s roadways safer.
The Drug Free Commercial Trucking Act of 2013
These companion bills have already been introduced to both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Those responsible for presenting these bills include Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), and Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR). If passed, these bills would require that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognize hair testing as an optional method for trucking companies to comply with U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.
Currently, only urine testing is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a mandatory pre-employment drug screening for truck driver applicants. Advocates of the bill believe it will be helpful as it is possible for an applicant to pass a urine test but then fail hair testing. This bill would give employers the option of utilizing both tests to more accurately screen potential drivers for drug use.
National Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Along with giving employers more flexibility with their pre-employment drug screening methods, the bills could also have an effect on the recently created drug and alcohol clearinghouse.
Last year Congress mandated that a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse be created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and it is expected to be up and running by next year. The purpose of the clearinghouse is to create a database of all drivers that have ever failed or refused a federally mandated pre-employment drug test. This information can then be used by trucking companies to further screen applicants in regards to drug use.
However, due to the fact that urine testing is the only a drug screening method approved by the Department of Health and Human Services, only results from these types of tests can be submitted to the clearinghouse. This is another area where the proposed bills would have an effect. If they are passed, these bills would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to recognize hair follicle testing as an approved methodology and therefore the results from hair testing could be submitted to the national clearinghouse database as well.
The potential effects that these two bills could have on the trucking industry could be quite substantial. This is because they would have an impact on pre-employment drug screening methods, which could affect both new and experienced drivers. It is clear that the federal government is aiming to keep drug users out of the commercial driving industry and these latest bills appear to be an attempt to further that goal.
Jeanne Longhorne is an experienced freelance writer who currently writes within the commercial shipping niche on behalf of the auto transport carrier American Auto Move. When she’s not writing, Jeanne enjoys attending car shows around the country.
