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Nov 6, 2007 2:12 PM

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has urged Congress to help the trucking industry keep drug and alcohol abusers off the road and improve safety on the nation's highways by supporting efforts to enhance drug and alcohol testing for the nation's 3.4 million truck drivers.

Testifying on behalf of ATA before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Greer Woodruff of J B Hunt Transport Services Inc, made recommendations for improving drug and alcohol testing programs for commercial motor vehicle drivers:

•Congress to authorize and fund a centralized clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol testing results of commercial drivers to ensure that motor carrier employers are aware of previous positive test results during the hiring process.

•Congress to encourage the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement an incentive-based random testing rate requirement and focus on motor carriers with above average positive test results.

•Banning the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products that help drivers evade drug tests and penalizing those who use them.

•Directing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and DOT to initiate a rulemaking that allows the testing of hair as an alternative to urine.

•Improving oversight of specimen collection facilities and practices.