Should yearly hair follicle testing be mandated as a condition of retaining CDL

I don't know if you're replying to my question about not having to take drug tests, but if you are, you would rather drive on the highways and interstates with people that are drunk and/or high? Because if there's no drug testing, anybody that is an alcoholic, and especially people that smoke marijuana, will push the boundaries, and end up driving while under the influence. Because they know they're going to be able to get away with it. I'd rather have stringent and strict drug testing policies and enforcement actions in order to keep people that have a problem with smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol from driving an 80,000 pound missile at 65-70 mph. That's just going to cause a whole lot of hell. I for one do not want to share the road with anyone that is drunk and/or high. Both of those have no business being in the trucking industry much less being allowed to be in use while driving down the highway.

 

What I think is: what kind of person wants the gooberment to create more rules? What authority have you granted to another human being to dictate to you how you live your life?

If a driver pulls his brakes for the night at a Petro and decides to roll a fatty, why can't he? Why does some group of Nancy's get to decide what that driver is doing in his truck on his off duty time? IF regulation is good for one man, then all men should abide. If drivers have to pee in a cup, so should every occupation.

Seriously, if one person could come up with a legit reason that society would be better off if truckers were forced to pull out their own hair in order to obtain employment, I would be happy to oblige.

This is NOT about truckers or weed...it's about public compliance and the centralization of authority to dictate how you will spend this one life that you've awakened into.

 

I bet all those truckers I see climbing up into the trunk of the 4 wheeler in front of them, trying to push them along aren't high but their behavior is 1000000000% more immediately and inherently dangerous than someone being high. Do you think we should test DNA to conclude if someone is likely to have road rage while operating a truck?

How about anyone that's every had a traffic violation of any kind should be banned from trucking?

How many ways can you think of that would discriminate against the exceptions in this world?

 

I believe anyone that wants to take a drug test should be allowed to do so

 

Perfect.

 

That level of goverment control over the people is just not possible. Lets get rid of the moral aspect for a moment and just look at the practical problems.
As it stands, we cant keep heroin out of the prisons. Think about that for a second. We have total control over those degenerates and we cant keep them clean.
The fact is that there are not many of us that want to do drugs. Most drug seekers do not wish to work 70hrs a week. I dont think the problem of stoned drivers is as bad as you think it is and I dont think that success is the result of drug testing.
Are there a very few that get through and do drugs in a semi? I am sure there must be some.
Should we burn down the economy and the culture of freedom we have to eliminate them?
I dont think so.
I always vote for freedom over safety

 

That's why there needs to be a system set in place that is fair across the board. DOT and FMCSA tells companies that they can only use one certain urine drug test and hair follicle. Through testing and R&D, they can come up with both urine and hair follicle tests that are advanced and accurate, and would be the only one that companies can use. Because there are different brands and manufacturers of drug tests that are less accurate than others. If one can be found that companies are only allowed to use said drug test, then maybe false positives can be eliminated. And there needs to be more strict enforcement for faking a drug test such as using synthetic urine. There has to be a system in place that is to be used by every company, and should not be deviated from. Bathroom doors should be left open while taking a urine test to keep people from faking a test, and someone standing there behind them watching them pee in the cup.

The other day, I was on facebook reading a comment to a question somebody asked about having to take a drug test as an O/O. The guy asking the question said that he had smoked a little weed recently within one month, and was worried about testing positive. There were a few people telling this person, whom was still a new driver, to buy synthetic urine and faking his drug test.

 

So you want to drive on a highway, better yet, you want your family driving on the highway and interstates while being high and drunk putting everybody's life and safety at risk? And you're okay with this? I for one do not want to drive anywhere whether it be a back road or an interstate with someone who's high and/or drunk. Scheduled drugs, especially schedule 1 drugs, and alcohol have no business being anywhere close to the trucking industry much less being on the highway. Do you realize how many lawsuits would be waiting to happen if this became the case by banning all drug tests to include urine tests?

 

With this new generation, the trucking industry is full of people that used to smoke weed, and if given the chance, they still would if it were allowed. Most who do smoke weed quit for 3 to 6 months just so they can drive. And I can guarantee if weed was allowed to be in the trucking industry, at least 35-40% of truck drivers would start smoking weed while driving their semi. Those people should not be allowed to have a CDL, be anywhere near the trucking industry, much less be allowed to drive a forklift or a pallet jack. Leave all of the heavy machinery operating jobs to the people that don't have a problem with weed, coke, meth, or alcohol. And don't have a problem with taking drug tests at the drop of a hat, and won't be sweating about it because they're afraid they might test positive because they smoked weed on the weekend at their house, while on vacation, or while on a 34.

 

[QUOTE="chrismcallister34, post: 12223484, member: 335783" I can guarantee if weed was allowed to be in the trucking industry, at least 35-40% of truck drivers would start smoking weed while driving their semi. .[/QUOTE]


I dont think this is correct