DAILY NEWS Dec 5, 2012 4:04 PM - 5 comments

Proposed pilot program to test truckers for drug use via hair samples

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2012-12-05

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The American Trucking Associations is applauding Rep. Reid Ribble (R-Wisc.) for his introduction of a bill requiring the US Department of Transportation to conduct a pilot program to evaluate the use of hair samples to test commercial drivers for illicit drug use.

“For many years, ATA has supported improving drug and alcohol testing procedures for commercial drivers,” ATA president and CEO Bill Graves said. “Hair testing, which research and experience shows can be much more effective than current, conventional sampling and testing methods, is the next logical step in this process.”

“No fleet wants to put the safety of the public at risk by putting an impaired driver behind the wheel of one its trucks,” said ATA chairman Mike Card, president of Combined Transport. “More effective drug testing procedures can help us make sure that doesn't happen.”
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Reader Comments

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i drive

I think its great. Nothing like working with people that are grumpy all day intill they get ther next fix, or hung over to the point of stupidness, we are talking about saftey people grow up. I love trucking don't get me wrong, but with the driver being alone allday it attracts substence abuse problems. Wages and the push play a big roll in this also. still doesn't make it safe.

Posted December 12, 2012 08:44 AM

TRUCKERGREG

Enough already ! Put the suits from the office on the road for a week and let me run the office ! These people just keep making up rules to keep themselves a job. in 20 years of driving only once have I seen a truck driver smoke a joint ! 99.9 % of drivers scoff at that sort of thing and will flush out the bad drivers without another law.

Posted December 7, 2012 08:19 PM

Peter Mueggler

I am happy I have only 9 years left in this business, There are too many misinformed well intentioned righteous law makers at the wheel.

Good luck to any person who wants to drive for a living, I can not think of any other profession to which one would subject themselves to this sort of under the microscope behaviour.

There are too many thugs with badges already policing truck drivers as though we are criminals. Now we will be asked (expected,told,forced) to produce a hair sample.

Really now, If the ATA and Bill Graves want to see safer and better drivers behind the wheels, increase the salary of the driver so they have some thing to loose before they choose to live a reckless life style.

We need intelligent leaders, not these bored politicians who should be on the golf course.

p.s. I have come across enforcement officers who I felt should have tested their own strand of hair.

Posted December 7, 2012 10:21 AM

Joy of Trucking

HAIR SAMPLES??? Are you kidding me??? Hair samples give a history of drug use but do NOT, I repeat, do NOT indicate impairment. Urine samples are even unreliable because some drugs will show up in the system long after the impairment is gone. That kind of testing is not to keep impaired drivers off the road - it is a witch hunt! God help the guy who was "slipped a mickey" a month ago.

Posted December 6, 2012 10:41 AM

LarryFreedom

ATA should replace its name by BBA Big Brother Association.

Posted December 6, 2012 10:31 AM
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