The increasing number of full queries made into the federal Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse is evidence that the database is taking drug abusers off the road as intended, according to a trucking regulatory expert.
According to the latest monthly statistics released Monday by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, full queries into the clearinghouse increased 33% to 13,785 between October and November, which followed a 61% increase between September and October. Full queries are conducted by employers on current drivers after receiving a “hit” on those drivers through a limited query.
A major motivation for the FMCSA’s clearinghouse, which opened on Jan. 6, was to close a loophole that had allowed drivers with drug or alcohol violations to get hired by trucking companies by lying about test failures.
“Drivers with violations are getting caught in the clearinghouse net, as intended,” David Osiecki, president and CEO of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, told FreightWaves.
Also of note in the latest statistics, Osiecki said, was a 54% month-over-month increase in the number of limited queries into the database. “This is a clear sign employers are complying with the annual query requirement for their current drivers,” he said.
Employers — including owner-operators operating under their own authority — are required to run at least one query of their employees per year. The requirement can be met by conducting either a full or limited query. Employers have until Jan. 5 to perform their first annual query.
Osiecki pointed out one concerning trend throughout the 11 months that the clearinghouse has been up and running: the low percentage of drivers with violations who have been treated and cleared for return to duty, which affects overall driver retention in the trucking industry.
While that percentage has increased from roughly 5% earlier in the year to 11% in November, the number is “still stubbornly low,” he said, and “bears close watching going forward.”
Meanwhile, the number of drivers failing drug tests fell 12.7% in November compared to the previous month. As of Dec. 1, marijuana has been by far the No. 1 substance identified in 50,627 positive drug tests submitted since the clearinghouse began operating in January, at 53%. Cocaine was next at 14.3%, followed by methamphetamines at 9%.
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KIRK ANGEL
Remove marijuana from the list of substances tested for…
Omr
The date is lies I never use drug or alcohol and the dart discharge me refuse a drug test
Everiste Ray Nacoste
I I did everything they said to get cleared up and still can’t get a job
Robert L Elam
Not fair at all!!!!
Do you know as a petroleum driver,how many times I have to walk by vehicles that has a VERY STONG SMELL OF DRUGS coming for a car. Or how many times I’ve gotten light headed from catching a charge from just walking pass a vehicle like that??
Now if I was to get a random drug test the next day,I’d fail,never having used drugs in my intire life.
And lose my job and hazmat endorsement and possibly my license. Y’all need to rethink this thing.
Faron Myrick
The Problem isn’t DRUGS in the TRUCKING INDUSTRY
ITS FORIEGN DRIVERS!
These PARASITES have DECREASED AMERICAN TRUCKERS PAY!
They are the CANCER that KILLED the AMERICAN TRUCKERS LIVELIHOOD!
Thank your CHINA BACKED, WASHINGTON DC POLITICIAN
Alexander
I work for Koch Trucking and we were told that the company wouldn’t hire drivers if they had failed a drug test in the past, even after being ‘treated and cleared to return to duty.
Tom Thompson
I’ve been passed over by 4 companies now. 2 even used the clearinghouse against me for dock jobs. Make sure you know your rights concerning a drug test. Mine was considered substituted due to low creatinine and specific gravity that was .005 points higher than the DOT standard which is lower than any other recognized standard for specific gravity. The dot uses 1.02 the Mayo Clinic says the high range is 1.03 mine was 1.024 are you kidding me ? Like I said in a post yesterday a class action lawsuit is in order ! Just need a lawyer willing to do it.
Tom Thompson
Forgot to add that my creatinine is low due to liver and kidney issues per lab work due to abuse of drugs ……. Advil Aleve and Tylenol, due to killing myself for 18 years at a company and not even given a chance to challenge the results.
David Meeks
Ugh I meant can’t
David Meeks
The drug tests are inaccurate. I know drivers got their licenses suspended by FMSCA because CBD oil and gummies. How do you fail for doing something legal. We can take them and drive but government can smoke weed on capital hill and run the country. Go figure.
Bilal K Almutasim
Our Nation is in a Pandemic, Absolutely nothing is normal or business as usual… The American people are struggling to pay their bills, Keep a roof over their heads, Take care of their children that are stagnant and falling behind, Etc., Here you come with your clearinghouse. Now is not the time bureaucrats.