A National Drug-Testing Database?

Congratulations to U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (D-Arkansas) for submitting a bill to Congress to create a national drug-testing database. His idea seems to be a good one. For professional truck drivers who fail a drug or alcohol test, the results will be posted on a national database and used as a reference for all trucking companies seeking to hire someone.

And congratulations to the trucking industry trade association for supporting Pryor's bill.

But we have to ask ourselves, "Why does it take an act of Congress for trucking companies to share this vital public safety information or to take pro-active steps to make our roads safer?"

Why don't the large trucking companies take matters into their own hands NOW?

A driver with a history of alcohol or drug abuse should never be allowed to operate a semi-truck or tractor-trailer and the trucking corporations should be working hard to keep them off the road now and always. Operating a large vehicle is difficult enough without the likelihood that someone may be seriously impaired.

So why haven't the national trucking companies developed a method of sharing this information already? Do they really need the federal government to step in and make them do the right thing?

The sad thing is that even with Senator Pryor's bill, it will take years to enact this common-sense truck safety legislation.

Here are a few recommended steps that a trucking company can easily take in the meantime:

1. Check all references and get confirmation of no drug or alcohol abuse in writing from all prior employers.
2. Ask to see all results of any drug or alcohol tests and likewise share results with future employers who ask.
3. Contact local authorities and/or use professional search services to ensure a clean driving record. (These services are inexpensive especially when used by large volume companies.)
4. Ask all applicants to provide copies of accident reports and have signed affidavits verifying a clean driving record.
5. Administer a pre-hiring drug test.
6. Administer random drug and alcohol testing for all active drivers.

Many have said these steps are expensive. That is simply not true.

First, most of these tests and checks can be conducted easily with existing personnel. Second, when a drunk or drugged driver kills someone, the resulting lawsuit could cost the company millions of dollars - far more than the cost of enacting these common sense measures. Third, many responsible trucking companies already take most of these steps so adding a few more steps simply won't cost that much.

These common-sense steps can be implemented cheaply, quickly and without an act of Congress.