ICSA Platinum Membership requirements include the hair testing of drivers for drugs. Why? Because hair testing promotes safety… and it works! Here’s more proof:
A recent study by the University of Central Arkansas compared more than 936,000 truck driver pre-employment urine and hair test results. The tests results were submitted by motor carrier members of The Trucking Alliance, who, like ICSA Platinum Members, utilize hair testing as well as the federally mandated urine tests. University researchers looked at drug test failures from both testing methods.
Result: Urinalysis failed to detect 90% of the drug use revealed by hair testing.
Specifics:
Professional truck drivers are tested for each of these drugs because their presence in the driver’s system can affect perception, muscle control, clear thinking and reaction time – that is, because these drugs can lead to unsafe driving. Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved the use of oral fluids for drug testing, greatly facilitating immediate roadside tests in post-accident situations. Unfortunately, urinalysis and oral fluids testing only reveal drug use in the past one to three days. Hair testing can detect a pattern of drug use up to 90 days.
Highway safety and drug-free truck drivers go hand-in-hand. That’s why ICSA supports the federal approval of hair testing. And that’s why ICSA Platinum Membership includes hair testing as a requirement.
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.