FMCSA Extends Comment Period on Drug Reporting Study

Aug 23, 2001 12:00 PM

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the comment period on an issue related to reporting commercial drivers' positive drug tests to the states where they obtained their licenses. The deadline has been extended from August 8, 2001, to September 8, 2001, according to information published in the Federal Register August 22.

FMCSA has been tasked by Congress to conduct a study on the issue. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) requested a 45-day extension for commenting.

The potential provision would require prospective employers to report all verified positive controlled substances test results on any driver subject to the testing to the state where the driver is licensed. It also would require the employer, before hiring the driver, to query the state that issued the CDL to determine if the state had any record of a positive drug test on the applicant.

Of concern are operational, legal, confidentiality, and financial issues, as well as the type of database, data access, and database management that would be required, according to the Federal Register information.

For more information, visit the Federal Register on the Internet, August 22, at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont01.html