What Are Current State Of Affairs Of Drug Testing Regulations?

A friend recently told me that "the feds" are removing marijuana testing requirements for truck drivers because the industry needs more drivers. I replied "I don't think so, I've read of many people who have been denied employment due to presence of marijuana in hair tests recently."

But it got me to wondering where he would have got this idea so I did some searching but came up empty. On the other hand, I found this article where 11 trucking companies petitioned FMCSA to allow hair follicle testing. From a quick read, it sounds like hair testing is not allowed by FMCSA in meeting testing requirements. I believe this means that trucking companies must still test 50% of employees with urine tests in addition to any hair follicle tests they do. I believe I've read comments here at TT that the hair follicle testing is required by FMCSA, but I might be mistaken.

The article also states that FMCSA deferred replying to the petition saying HHS was taking up the matter but some say those regulations are too lenient and others say they go too far. Big surprise there.

I don't have a strong opinion on the matter but suppose someone that might use marijuana once during home time would lose their job and license even though they could be safe while on the job and that would be an injustice. My son does not use drugs of any type (except sometimes ibuprofen) and no alcohol. I usually don't have more than a couple of alcoholic drinks a week, never shortly before driving. I have two brothers who have a long history of drug use and it puzzles me how people can be so different.

Harvey, trucking companies are using the hair test as a pre-employment drug test. That is perfectly legal, but it is not approved by the FMCSA as an official way of testing drivers. A lot of people don't appreciate them using this test, but it is already being considered as an FMCSA approved drug testing method. Just like with any decision they make, it takes time for everything to get established. When the rules were created we didn't even have hair testing. It is a much more thorough testing method. Hence the resistance. Many people can stay clean for 30 days and manage to pass a urine test - not so with the hair test.

I don't know where your friend got his information, but as far as I can tell it is bogus.

I don't know where your friend got his information, but as far as I can tell it is bogus.

I believe he got it on the Internet but I once read that Abraham Lincoln said you can't believe everything on the Internet! :)

Thanks for the clarification.

Trust in old abe Lincoln, because the truth is that the State of current affairs of drug testing regulations state No Mary Jane....pretty simple if it pops on urine or hair follicles, your career is done.

I don't know where your friend got his information, but as far as I can tell it is bogus.

I believe he got it on the Internet but I once read that Abraham Lincoln said you can't believe everything on the Internet! :)

Thanks for the clarification.