Shocking Investigation Prompts Crackdown on Alcohol, Drug-Using Truckers; Findings Reveal Truck Driv

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calling the investigation findings “disturbing,” officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation are poised to crackdown on commercial truck drivers who test positive for drugs or alcohol, Minn. Congressman and Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar said Wednesday.

A report was released revealing gross loopholes in testing for motor vehicle drivers, and the Department of Transportation has pledged to toughen its regulations and test all drivers consistently.

DOT officials plan to make a national registry of drivers’ alcohol and drug testing results to prevent drivers who test positive from crossing state borders and applying for a new license.

In his statement, Congressman Oberstar cited a 2007 FOX 9 investigation into serious violations occurring at drug and alcohol testing facilities. The FOX 9 report prompted a DOT and Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the gross deficiencies taking place with current drug and alcohol testing programs. At that time, drug and alcohol testing did not ensure that offending drivers were pulled off the roads.

The Findings

GAO’s report found that many truck drivers are not even being tested for drugs. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s compliance reviews, 9 percent of motor vehicle carriers had no drug testing program in place at all. Those carriers still received a “safe” designation—while lacking a drug testing requirement for drivers.

It is also too easy for using drivers to escape detention by subverting a drug test. The GAO undercover investigation uncovered serious rule violations in drug testing facilities. In 22 of 24 facilities, protocols were not followed to substantially prevent a driver from cheating on a test.

In almost one-half of the facilities, the undercover agents undergoing the test were not asked to empty their pockets, which allowed them to bring in adulterants and synthetic urine. And at three-fourths of the locations, other substances like soap and cleaning products were available which could cause the test results to be altered.

As part of their undercover work, GAO agents submitted a variety of adulterated urine samples—store-bought “tricks” used solely for the purpose of beating a drug test—and not a single one was caught by the labs.

The committee subpoenaed 5 years of drug test results from a drug-testing company in Texas. During that time period, the records reveal that almost 700 drivers failed a drug test with one employer, and then were hired by a new employer. In many cases, the drivers were hired just weeks after their failed drug test, evidently keeping the results from their second employers. This process is called “job hopping.”

The Proposal

Elements of the legislative proposal include:

  • To implement a national database of positive, refused, and adulterated drug and alcohol test results
  • Require that employers query the database as a part of the hiring process
  • Oversee that facilities comply with DOT regulations for testing of transportation employees
  • And strengthen enforcement over companies that don’t enforce a drug testing policy

In a closing statement, “We cannot afford to stand idly by. We must move forward aggressively to ensure the safety of the traveling public," said Oberstar.

MyFox9.com; May 21, 2008

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