By
Team Writer
/ February 23, 2017
A Truck Alliance has said that carriers petitioning FMCSA for hair testing are now using a more reliable method. The petitioners all utilize hair testing because they say an applicant can stay clean for a period of time right before urinalysis and hair testing can detect lifestyle abusers of drugs who can avoid detection with a urine test.
Key Takeaways:
- Truck driving is an occupation that exposes the general public to possible safety risks, because motorists share the highways with thousands of commercial truck drivers every day.
- The Alliance noted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that between 2012 and 2014, there were 560 fatal accidents involving large trucks, where the truck driver tested positive for illegal drug use.
- Alliance members which have used hair testing have been able to screen out prospective employees that likely would have passed a urinalysis, the comments noted.
“The petitioners all utilize hair testing because they say an applicant can stay clean for a period immediately prior to a urinalysis while hair testing can detect lifestyle drug abusers who might avoid detection with a urine test.”