Among the groups working to improve drug testing regulations for professional truck drivers is a coalition of transportation carriers which have jointly requested permission from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace urine-testing with hair follicle-testing. Drugs remain in hair follicles for significantly longer periods of time than in urine, and these companies use follicle-testing as part of their own employee-testing policies; however, they must also provide duplicate urine tests in accordance with DOT regulations, and their proposal would save costs on duplicate tests and also result in more accurate reports.
Another proposal involves creating a centralized records database of everyone who owns a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which would provide employers easier access to potential employees’ driving records and alert them regarding employees’ traffic violations and crimes. In many cases, the employer of an impaired truck driver can be held legally liable for the damage that the driver causes in an accident, so employers would certainly benefit from increased regulations and more accurate drug-testing reports. These regulations can also result in lower insurance premiums and, of course, reduce the risks of accidents and save lives on the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company, contact America’s Consumer Lawyer for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
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