A new notice published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced that the minimum annual rate of drug testing will double for carriers starting January 1st, 2020.
This change comes with very little warning and will go into effect almost immediately, greatly increasing the burden on trucking companies. According to the FMCSA notice, the agency expects that carriers will spend between $50 and $70 million more every year because of the new policy.
A survey conducted in 2018 by the FMCSA found that random controlled substances tests returned positive results 1% of the time. The increase from previous years prompted the FMCSA to require a greater number of random drug tests.
Previously, carriers were required to randomly test at least 25% of their drivers for controlled substances use. That came out to at least 1.05 million tests conducted in 2018. With the new regulation in place, carriers will be required to randomly screen at least 50% of their drivers. The FMCSA expects at least 2.1 million random controlled substances tests in 2020.
The change was issued on December 20th and was signed into effect by DOT Secretary Elaine Chao.
Source: freightwaves
the more testing the better.
I could understand if there was a huge problem but there is not! With only 1% of the drivers tested being dirty out of 1.1 million? I don’t see a problem with drugs being used in the work force. In Oregon if you fail a drug test on a CDL the state puts it into your driving record. This alone would keep a driver clean because your personal vehicle insurance will get hit also. I rather see this go nationwide and quit wasting money that could be used on other stuff.
The money *could* be used to incentivize a better class of people to be drivers… But, of course, it wouldn’t be, so I suppose it doesn’t matter what they waste it on.
I agree with the Oregon idea as I hold a CDL. Get caught and you loose much more than the license.
In 3 day, Illinois will have passed the weed law to smoke which will be legal in state but not federal and companies will use that to get rid of some of the driver, watch the unemployment go up in the next year.
It’s almost like they are trying to run off driver’s.
I didn’t really see drugs as a issue in trucking to begin with.
Exactly JAC…. They don’t see it either. Just another money grab.
Very true. They’re not gonna be satisfied til no human is DRIVING tractors only computers. There’s an old true saying.. MAN IS ITS OWN ENEMY.
I wholeheartedly agree with you
Are they going to test the Computer Programmers who controll the driverless trucks ?
Are you nuts? Anybody got a smokin dope? They were a problem 50 years ago. Back then it was dope, not mixed with horse s==t!
When are they going to change the hos since elogs are the law of the land? They talk and preach about safety and yet they re dragging their feet! Hypocrites!
Run off isn’t even the word you me male us extinct. This will cost money and where does the money come from.
Almost certainly from driver compensation. It’s the softest part of a carrier’s operating budget.
Every government employee should also be random drug tested including Congress. Drove commercial motor. vehicles for 37 years drug tested multiple times was waste of money. Address the person who is suspect of drug or alcohol abuse. Stop being politically correct. Since you can only have one commercial drivers license there is more to loose if you are caught operating cmv under the influence. I would be more concerned about every driver texting and driving then drunk driving. More drivers texting than drinking while driving.
I’m so sick and tired of all this government oversight, more regulations, more lies from the big box companies on driver shortages. Nothing, but B.S., in order to line a company or states pockets with easy cash, whether it be testing for drugs or sleep apnea, or even a medical card…..and this is how the big companies were able to turn all trucks on the road driverless, thus saving themselves big money….disgusting
My issue is the lawmakers people making humanless truck how do they expect to keep our economy going, how do they expect us to turn the money back into the American economy all human beings are out of work, what do they expect everyone to rely on the government just air heads SMFH…
You know what group will easily keep drug test failures below 1%?
Military veterans under 21 years of age.
When was the last time that Elaine Chao submitted to random drug testing? Will DoT employees be undergoing the same rigorous testing? Will they also be required to register to have their results made available to such third parties as future employers?
DoT needs datapoints to populate their new drug and alcohol online database. It isn’t valuable if it doesn’t contain any data, and if it isn’t valuable, it can’t generate revenue or justify it’s own budget.
If this were really about safety, the regulators would get in the pool with the regulated.
They need to do something about this that are teaching drivers the way they should
They should do something about these that is not teaching drivers right
Our government is in a life too much as is
I run ga 5or6 day a week every100 cars that pass me 95 of them are texting. It’s not the drugs that’s a problem. It’s the phone’s but the government won’t the money.
If they smoking a lil weed on off time should not be a bigg deal
You forgot to add in random breathalyzer. These truck driver’s are out of control. Driving let pure idiots. I’m all for it! This way you can weed out the bad ones, no pun intended..
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If more of the drivers were unionized there would be less of this sht, as the union drivers would have more power As a group.
Drivers and other personnel subjected to random testing wouldn’t be so hostile to it of they weren’t treated as criminals the second their name comes up for screening. From the person making the call ordering you to take the test to the people collecting at the clinic, the entire process is meant to make a person guilty of something.
When are we going to require Congress to pass drug tests!!!
Somebody making money on these drug test, it’s a money making scheme, lab owners and a few other people will fill there pockets with cash ☝️
This is ridiculous the FMCSA can conjure up all sorts of rules and guidelines for us as drivers to comply with but overlook the fact that we lose every time another politician gets bored and decides to push another costly rule… Since they force us to comply and be so transparent it would be nice to apply same rules on them including investment portfolios…I willing to bet some have huge stock in these driverless trucks…
Its all about control, once they got u you are no longer make your own decisions they make it for u. trucker! More testing means more revenue.
I quit driving way to much hassle and i dont want the Goverment up my ass there are so many other jods out there i just started one and no pre Employment drug test at all but funny i out grew doing drugs and even drinking hard so maybe i should drive.Hell no to many crazy drivers and traffic .
I dont have a problem with random drug screens..I attained my CDL A in 2016 and have the 3 major endorsements..but this is ludicrous..I have had 3 different jobs with different companies..each requiring pre employment screening..and had 2 or 3 randoms..but changing guidelines from 25% to 50%..makes zero sense..we all are aware that we can get a letter at beginning of shift to take random…that is enough of deterrent considering you lose license for a year if positive..and 2nd positive lose for life..all your doing is adding cost to an already competitive industry so some politicians can pat themselves on back..stats I read in this article had positive tests at 1%..how about every elected official and their cabinets are subjected to random screening..I have an important job and and cargo that could cause great harm if I drive impaired..and I take that responsibility seriously..I dont need a suit justifying their job to create extra cost
More of your civil liberties being vanquished by a Government agency with ZERO legislative authority. Tyranny at its finest.
Are you kidding me? Meth is the only thing that keeps me awake behind the wheel! I have a mirror on my dash and a bag holding my stash and at each customer, I crush it up and do as many rails as it takes to get to my next stop. No one ever says anything. *shrug*
haha. What nonsense. Truck drivers are not usually using drugs and for those who are, you can usually tell, so just test the suspicious ones and get on with the day, dammit. Who has time for pissing? Not a truck driver – that’s why our bladders are always busting. 😉
That’s profiling and we can’t do that because it might hurt somebody’s feelings.
This is the same reason the low intelligence gate security makes an 87 year old person roll out of their wheel chair to check for a bomb 💣
If you’re working security in Afghanistan I could see checking everyone.
There should be an eye test through a computer to test for impairment what you did at a concert on vacation is nobody’s buisness. Weed will be federally leagle soon there should be a 24 hr rule no smoking or drinking 24 hr before driving . Canada does not test drivers for weed . And what about Acid Molly Schrooms Ketamine or designer drugs
Dammit man, I have Dracula blood. Im afraid !
Good it’s about time there are to many users out here slipping through the cracks and getting behind the wheel they think these so called quick clean anti drug drinks work 24 hours before taking tests they dont
Its also the prescription drugs. Lice Tylenol 3 that they test for.
I have been on it due to my back for 14 years.
Till 2015 I could take it while driving.
Then rules changed could not use while driving and had to stop it 12 hrs before driving .
Then last year rules changed again had to stop 3-5 days before driving or I would test positive.
2.5 million plus miles accident free driving. LAST ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT 1992
Thanks to the federal government I’m collecting social security disability.
There getting rid of drivers 1 by 1.
No problem with testing just do not waste my time doing it pay drivers for being required to do things, ok it’s my jobs pay me for extra tasks required. Professional drivers already do alot of unpaid work they don’t need more time wasted unpaid.
Yep Trucking companies should pay bonus for having to be so damn controlled also there are None DOT jobs that pay more than CDL jobs so there is going to really be a CDL shortage in the next 10 years . Leagle Weed means leagle for all .
They should just do randoms right at the weigh station, surprise, bam! 5 minutes your in and out!
That means that the ones who came up with the new rule,will also have to pay for it, and we know the government ain’t in the business of helping truck drivers,getting tested at the weight stations will never happen
Probably the easiest and quickest way to get er done but it’s the mega carriers they are taking aim at….I would assume a lot of testing to start right there…let the fun begin…doesn’t worry me since a only drink a 12 pack a year
Well the opioid problem didn’t help out here and now all drivers have to pay the price by the stupid few. Yeah it sucks, substance abuse knows no boundaries.
Fine, I have nothing to hide, BUT these so-called politicians need to be drug tested also AND the results need to be made public. The crap that comes out of some of these politicians mouths makes me wonder just what the hell they’re smoking or what kind of mind altering, hallucinogenic drugs they’re taking.
I did scrooms in the 80s cant wait to try again there leagle in Oregon and Colorado and no test HA HA dot .
It is what it is .. I think ELDs and the rest of the B’s is on called for but what can a guy do at 67??
Get the call, drug test now! Find a place where you can park a 75ft tractor trailer, or you loss your job.
I live and work in two stoner states, and I would think that the U/A’s would produce more positives, Oregon would make you lose your job and your CDL
until you spend money on rehab treatment. I just got a speeding ticket and the stater kept asking me about my e log instruction book which I didn’t have and I found out that it is a violation not to have it (no fine but put on my CDL record), it is run as a driver inspection a Level III, which they can run on your trailer you know kick tires check turn signals. This has only one thing to do with more U/A’s is that the Fed’s get money, the police get money, the driver gets to work and pay.
More bs in the name of safety…
‘MONEY’!!! It’s a gas!!
I’m sorry but I have very little faith in our Govt. Yes, if a driver is caught under the influence then he/she should be held accountable but c’mon… 1% In 2018 so now we are gonna double our efforts? All these unfounded mandates by the government get more than burdensome. I guess that bothers me more than the requirement itself. I reckon I’ll be investing in those pharmaceutical companies supplying the random drug test. I’m sure certain government officials already have.
Sounds like a money scam to me. Just because the percentage goes up by 1? Doesn’t make sense to me. It’s just another stab at the trucking industry, another way to push anotomous trucks in the market. Keep getting rid of drivers and there won’t be food on the table. Auto trucks are only going to go so far and it will implode on itself.
Still not a word is mentioned about how often Congress, the Supreme Court, the President or their staffs, or welfare parasites will be tested. I guess it’s still a case of, “We make the rules. You obey the rules.”
Amen! I agree 100%!
Government employees are not subject to drug testing. “ItS UnCoNsTiTuTiOnAl” apperently.
Signed into law by:
Elaine Chaio (R) Kentucky
Sec. of Transp. under Donald Trump.
Married to Mitch McConnell.
—
The New York Times:
Has described her as “an unapologetically ambitious operator with an expansive network, a short fuse, and a seemingly inexhaustible drive to get to the top and stay there”.
—
Chao’s father has donated millions of dollars to Mitch McConnell’s re-election campaigns. Chao’s extended family has given more than a million dollars to McConnell’s campaigns. The extended family is also a top contributor to the Republican Party of Kentucky, giving it approximately $525,000 over two decades.
They need to test people who are getting any kind of government or state assistance. And if test comes back positive revoke assistance. Government always trying to find ways to screw a working man.
You know they keep making and chaning the rules to drivers to quite driving where would this country be with out truck drivers you a good old fashion strike would wake this country up if truck drivers would stop driving for 3 days
Ok so it goes to 50% but in what time frame annually monthly what time frame
Some of the small carriers could end up with drivers spending more time at a test facility than driving trucks
I agree with testing but when testing starts impeding productivity then there’s an issue
Enacted by:
Elaine Chao (R) Kentucky
Wife of Mitch McConnell
HOS came into effect because drivers were popping mini-whites and driving cross country in three and a half days. With HOS you don’t need any artificial stimulants. The only drugs they’re going to find in my system are nicotine and caffeine. But they’ll want to make those illegal too. They’re already pushing it. My boss complains about my smoking but if I can’t smoke I’ll hang it up and do something else.
Sooo they are saying TRUCKERS are responsable for 900 fatal acvidents per year so they need to double testing. Accidents already require driver drug testing. Just another way to make $$$ for the purchase of drug kits. Never mind FEDERALLY FUNDED Truck driving schools turning out unqualified, untrained drivers with no road time on top of them ever lowering the blood pressure part of physicals to weed out older drivers.
Drug test management
CONCENTRA has some strong lobbyists in Washington. This just DOUBLED their business!
I wonder if China drug test drivers and why not make every driver on the road take drug test not just Truckers.
My last comment the DOT states there are 5 drugs that cant be used buy there are so many other kinds so there you go they cant test for them all . Good Luck DOT keeping up with modern pharmacology !