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While a hair test runs around $90 test positive for drug use by a factor of screening method. Both urine and hair
per test in comparison to the $45 price three, trucking companies should have testing have an optimum application to
tag of a urinalysis exam, company-wide the option to utilize the strongest drug certain testing objectives. As Heavener
hair testing programs inflict a steep, use detection tools, and these tools puts it, “urinalysis reveals an event with
but necessary, financial commitment. ought to be recognized by the federal drug abuse, and hair reveals a relation-
Maverick’s Vice President of Safety and government. Many trucking companies ship.” Both methods have a place in
Training, Dean Newell, asserts that if that are interested in hair testing will the overall scope of complementary
carriers were afforded the option to not use it until it is accepted by DOT testing, which ought to be reflected in
use hair testing in lieu of urinalysis, primarily due to the cost of duplicative federal requirements. DOT must enable
resources previously spent on duplica- testing. a system that allows carriers the best
tive testing could be redirected towards Unfortunately, as Andy Heavener possible options and combinations of
safety and productivity improvement with MedDirect, a national third party specimen type testing to better identify
measures such as investing in addition- administrator, points out “federal pro- drug users.
al safety technologies on trucks, sleep grams have simply not advanced in a The Trucking Alliance, a coalition
apnea testing, physical ability testing or broader approach to hair testing. With of trucking companies that support
hiring more drivers. the DOT it’s no longer a question of safety initiatives, is currently encourag-
There is seldom a one-size-fits-all being out of step with what’s available ing Congress to enact legislation that
solution when it comes to the truck- for drug testing methodology, but it’s would require DOT to immediately
ing industry, and in such an impera- time to determine how antiquated cer- accept hair as an approved alternative
tive case as screening truck drivers for tain polices actually are.” specimen to screen truck drivers for
drug abuse, federal regulations ought to Pertaining to eliminating drug drug use. This legislation would provide
incorporate the best available technolo- use among truck drivers, there are sig- trucking companies with the option to
gies that achieve the intended objective. nificant safety dangers that can and use hair testing in lieu of urinalysis for
As it is particularly crucial to identify have resulted by federal agencies limit- the purposes of pre-employment and
drug users at the pre-employment stage ing the availability and application of random drug screening.
where applicants are more likely to a scientifically proven superior drug

ROUNDTABLE,
Continued from page 37 “i hate tolls.”

Carman continued, “To put it in a —coNgressmaN tim griffiN (r-ark.)
real-life example, with the way things
are, they have to wake up in the middle
of the night and start driving because to raise a hand if you support a 10-cent way is because the toll idea won’t go
the rules are inflexible.” fuel tax. Everyone raised their hand. away. But there might be some politi-
I asked, ‘how about 20 cents? Thirty cal cover emerging as states are passing
HIGHway fUNdING cents? I got to 50 cents before anyone fuel taxes. We want a national highway
With a member of the House Ways lowered their hand. Tolls exist as a con- system that’s supported by national
and Means Committee in attendance, cept because our leaders don’t have to money—we don’t want to cross over to
it would be strange if the conversation take the political heat for it like they do Tennessee and wonder what we’re going
didn’t turn to finances. with fuel taxes.” to find.”
Summarizing the group’s senti- Shuster was quick to dismiss that Again, Shuster encouraged the
ments, Griffin said it best, “I hate tolls.” notion. “In Pennsylvania, we did it group to share their opinions—with
Williams underlined the indus- all—we were trying to lease the turn- legislators and the public. “I need your
try’s willingness to support a diesel tax pike, raise the fuel tax, toll I-80 all the help advocating not only to the folks in
increase. way across,” Shuster said. “The biggest Arkansas; but to go out across America
“In 2006, I was at an American outcry came from the places they were and get the highways that move goods
Trucking Associations executive com- going to put a toll.” and people funded properly,” Shuster
mittee meeting and I was looking at a Citing a recent number of state said. “You can talk to Tim and me right
table full of Republicans. I asked them, fuel tax increases, Williams conceded now, but it’s going to take a larger effort
do you want tolls and they said ‘hell pro-toll, anti-tax politics could be on to build these roads in the next 15
no, we don’t want tolls!’ I asked them their way out. “The reason I put it that years.”

arkansas Trucking rePorT | issue 2 2013 41