In The News

Carrier groups want expansion of drug database rule, petition FMCSA

A coalition of trucking and enforcement groups has filed a petition with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration asking the agency to expand its February-proposed drug and alcohol clearinghouse rule to require carriers to report “actual knowledge” of drug use by drivers, including times they have seen drivers using drugs.

In a comment posted on the proposed rule — which has a week left in its public comment period —  seven groups, including the American Trucking Associations, the Truckload Carriers Association and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, asked FMCSA to issue a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the rule.

They want the SNPRM to require employers to “report all instances of actual knowledge of misuse, including direct observations of misuse and acknowledgements of misuse, to the proposed clearinghouse,” according to the group’s letter.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association argues, however, that “only positive test results should be documented.”

“A driver’s permanent record should not be tainted by unverifiable accusations or assertions,” according to a statement from OOIDA.

OOIDA cited the petition as a reason for its request to FMCSA to extend the public comment period on the rule to May 21, from its original April 21. The agency granted the extension last month.

The Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule was proposed in February Upon its effective date, likely late next year or early 2016, it will establish a database of CDL holder who have failed or refused to take a drug or alcohol test.

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