On Oct. 7, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published its final rule prohibiting state driver licensing agencies from issuing a CDL to any individual prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions because of one or more violations in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The rule, effective Nov. 8, also requires that licensing agencies remove CDL privileges from the license of any individual prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions.
States must now adopt a comparable state prohibition on operating a commercial motor vehicle for drivers that violate FMCSA’s drug and alcohol program requirements. States must be compliant with the rule by Nov. 18, 2024.
However, ICSA expects many states will implement the federal requirement long before the 2024 date. More than half of the states have authority to adopt federal requirements “by reference” without having to go to their legislatures or through a state rule making process.
If you are a Platinum-level ICSA member who has not yet completed your required enrollment in our drug & alcohol consortium, please do so as soon as possible. Our consortium not only takes care of the mandatory notifications to the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse but also provides regulatory updates and information on managing your drug & alcohol testing requirements. It’s as simple as visiting the Texas Alcohol and Drug Testing website and filling out the enrollment forms. Learn more about ICSA’s drug & alcohol testing requirements.
Every year, TAT (formerly called Truckers Against Trafficking) honors a member of the trucking, bus or energy industry, whose direct actions help save or improve the lives of those exploited or prevent human trafficking from taking place, with the Harriet Tubman Award
Bob Costello has indicated that the freight market has improved – but very slowly – since January. It must be said that ATA’s indices are dominated by contract freight as opposed to spot rates.
Now, however, with Republican control of both houses of Congress and the White House (and, some say, the Supreme Court) I am optimistic that trucking will get a fairer shake than it has during Biden’s term in office.