Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/769491
16 | Overdrive | January 2017 Logbook Beginning Jan. 6, 2020, carriers will be required to report information about drivers' positive drug test re- sults, test refusals, failed alcohol tests and more to a federal database. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Dec. 5 published a final rule to establish the Com- mercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse administered by the agency and a third party. The rule, mandated by the MAP- 21 highway bill in 2012, will improve roadway safety, FMCSA says, by pre- venting any driver's ability to conceal "drug and alcohol violations merely by moving on to the next job or the next jurisdiction" without complet- ing the return-to-duty process. Current return-to-duty rules require employers to furnish drivers with a list of potential referrals for complet- ing a rehabilitation program with a substance abuse professional meeting U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines. Affected drivers must com- plete the program and retest before returning to work with any employer. The clearinghouse database will reflect such completions, and records will follow every affected driver regardless of how many times he or she changes employers, seeks employment or applies for a CDL in a different state, FMCSA says. Employers and medical review officers, including testing consor- tiums used by many independent owner-operators, will be required to report information about positive drug test results, alcohol test results greater than 0.04 blood alcohol content, refusals to test and other non-test violations of FMCSA's drug and alcohol regulations. Substance abuse profession- als working with drivers on re- turn-to-duty rehabilitation also will be required to report information about the rehabilitation process to the database. The rule also requires employers to search the clearinghouse database for information during the pre-em- ployment process and at least once a year for current employees. – Todd Dills Drug and alcohol database use required by 2020 FINAL IMPLEMENTATION of the Unified Registration System for existing carriers to use for their biannual updates, name changes and transfers of authority has been delayed again, this time indefinitely. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will issue a notice early this year to announce the revised imple- mentation dates. It had been set to take effect Jan. 14. The first phase of the URS, for new carriers only, was launched in December 2015. PILOT FLYING J this month is launching a roadside assistance program capable of changing tires and handling light repairs. PFJ President Ken Parent says the company has purchased about 150 trucks for the program and also plans to open 20 repair shops this year. THE ACCIDENT PLAN app helps truck drivers involved in a crash to file their accident report. The app covers things such as securing the scene, dealing with law enforcement, gathering data and other matters. SUNCO CARRIERS, doing business as Watkins Refriger- ated, was acquired by private equity firm KJM Capital; terms were not disclosed. The Lake- land, Fla.-based family-owned carrier runs primarily in the Southeast and operates more than 200 tractors and 400 reef- er trailers. THE TRUCKING ALLIANCE for Driver Safety and Security, an industry lobbying group, added three new members: U.S. Xpress, KLLM Transport Services and Cargo Transport- ers. Other members include J.B. Hunt, Knight Transporta- tion, Maverick USA and Dupré Logistics. announced it is joining forces with Cummins and Peterbilt to develop new tire technologies as part of the SuperTruck II program. Bridgestone said the tires are expected to increase fuel efficiency by up to 6 percent through a 30 percent decrease in rolling resistance compared to a 2009 model-year tire. BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS