ARLINGTON, Va., April 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Leaders of the American Trucking Associations applauded Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) for introducing the Safe Roads Act which would close a dangerous loophole that allows truck drivers who have tested positive for drugs or alcohol to deceive carriers and continue driving.
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"For over 15 years, commercial drivers have been required to submit to drug and alcohol testing to ensure they aren't impaired while on the highway," ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. "However, a loophole in the system allows drivers who test positive to evade the consequences of their actions by failing to disclose their complete work histories and positive test results to prospective employers. This important legislation will close that loophole and will improve the safety of our highways."
The Government Accountability Office and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have both found that a centralized clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results is preferable to the current system that relies on drivers to self-report their failed tests and on previous employers to provide test results to future employers. Currently, these prospective employers only learn of test results when drivers disclose the names of past employers for whom they tested positive.
"Senators Pryor and Boozman should be commended for taking this step to improve highway safety," said ATA Chairman Barbara Windsor. "ATA first began seeking this common sense safety solution in 1999 and subsequently made creation of a clearinghouse a component of ATA's progressive safety agenda.
"We'd also like to thank Senators Olympia Snowe, Roger Wicker and David Vitter for co-sponsoring this important bill and urge their colleagues to join them enacting this legislation," said Windsor, president and CEO of Hahn Transportation Inc., New Market, Md.
The American Trucking Associations (www.truckline.com) is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States. Follow ATA on Twitter @TruckingMatters (www.twitter.com/truckingmatters), or become a fan on Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/y4qwp6h).
SOURCE American Trucking Associations
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