News

By: Heavy Duty Trucking Staff

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a temporary waiver letting employers skip pre-employment drug testing for certain drivers as the economy works to recover from COVID-19 shutdowns.

May 2020, FMCSA Clearinghouse put out their first monthly summary report. Some of the highlights are that there have been more than 900,000 inquiries and 20,000 violations reported on the Clearinghouse website, Positive drug tests account for 80% of reported violations. See the full report here.

By: ASAP

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires a pre-employment drug test for all safety-sensitive employees. This includes airline workers, school bus drivers, train engineers, truck drivers, and much more. If you fail or refuse a pre-employment DOT drug test, it will hinder your ability to get a safety-sensitive job. You will have to complete a Return-to-Duty program by a DOT-qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) before applying for work.

By American Association of Nurse Anesthetists

As part of the "Year of the Nurse and Midwife" celebration, the American Nurses Association "will expand National Nurses Week, traditionally celebrated from May 6 to May 12 each year, to a month-long celebration in May to expand opportunities to elevate and celebrate nursing." 

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE

By Rich Holmes, HealthDay Reporter, US News

Marijuana dependence goes hand in hand with poor mental health, and problems may persist long after stopping the drug, according to Canadian researchers.

Nearly half of people who have been or are now dependent on pot have some form of mental illness or dependence on another substance, according to a report this month in the journal Advances in Preventative Medicine. That compares with 8% of people with no history of pot dependence have mental illness or another drug or alcohol addiction.

By: Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Spotlight on Opioids assembles opioid-related information from the Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health into one document to better inform the general public, especially family and friends of people with an elevated risk of opioid overdose, opioid misuse, and/or opioid use disorder.

By: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Purpose of National Prevention Week (Substance Use Prevention) - May 10-16, 2020

The three primary goals of National Prevention Week are to:

- Involve communities in raising awareness of substance use and mental health issues and in implementing prevention strategies, and showcasing effectiveness of evidence-based prevention programs;

By: ASAP

A Department of Transportation (DOT) drug test can occur during many points of employment. You may know what happens when you fail a DOT drug test, but what if you refuse to take it altogether? Will that cost you your job, or can you simply retake the test in the future? In this article, we'll discuss what happens after you refuse to take a DOT drug test.

By: Laura Dashner, ASAP

The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy and Control (ODAPC) has issued a Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) with regard to face-to-face SAP assessments and evaluations as outlined in 49 CFR §40.291, §40.293, §40.307 and re-qualification timelines outlined in 49 CFR §40.281(d).

By: Jeff Della Rosa. Talk, Business, and Politics

Lowell-based carrier J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced Monday (March 23) it will offer a one-time, $500 bonus to drivers and employees in field operations and customer facilities that support the drivers who have kept freight moving in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bonuses will cost between $13 million and $14 million and be given to about 23,000 employees, said Brad Delco, vice president of finance and investor relations for J.B. Hunt.

By: Kayla Matthews, FreightWaves

In recent years, the flatbed freight sector has seen a massive increase in demand. It’s so high that at times, trucking companies have had to delay shipments and deliver slower performance – they’re inundated with orders.

By: Lowell Melser, WBAL TV

Maryland's alcohol and medicinal marijuana businesses are booming amid the coronavirus pandemic as many residents spend a lot of time at home.

DOT Guidance on Compliance with DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulations

By: ASAP

Since the early 1990s, the Department of Transportation has used drug and alcohol testing to monitor safety-sensitive transportation employees. This ensures that pilots, truck drivers, mass transit operators, and other professionals operate in a drug-free and alcohol-free environment. If you have recently gone through drug and alcohol testing, you may wonder, "Does a failed DOT drug test go on your record?" The short answer is yes, but that does not mean you are without options. Read on to learn how DOT positive test results are reported.

By: ASAP

By Dr. Nora Volkow

By ASAP

The US Department of Transportation requires drug and alcohol testing for safety-sensitive positions, ranging from CDL drivers to flight attendants and beyond. These testing programs are designed to protect the public safety. If you have recently failed a DOT drug test in Texas, you are still be eligible to return to work if you work with a DOT qualified Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) to complete the Return-To-Duty steps to restore your career.

By Gary A. Enos

John Gallagher, Freight Waves

Before you can record information about a driver’s return-to-duty (RTD) process in the Clearinghouse (as required per §

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-334, (Farm Bill) removed hemp from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act.  Under the Farm Bill, hemp-derived products containing a concentration of up to 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are not controlled substances.  THC is the primary psychoactive component of marijuana.

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By Associated Press

Washington — Alarmed by a deadly new twist in the nation's drug addiction crisis, the government will allow states to use federal money earmarked for the opioid epidemic to help growing numbers of people struggling with meth and cocaine.

By Transport Topics

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a petition submitted by the American Bus Association that exempts bus drivers from following California’s meal-and-rest-break rules.