Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/324702
June 2014 | Overdrive | 17 Logbook Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com Groups want stronger clearinghouse rule A coalition of trucking and enforcement groups says the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration didn't make its proposed drug and alcohol clearinghouse rule as comprehensive as it should have. The group wants an amendment to add the requirement that carriers re- port observation of "misuse" to the clearinghouse. In a comment posted on the proposed rule, seven groups asked FMCSA to issue a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the rule. The groups include the American Trucking As- sociations and the Truckload Carriers Association. They want the SNPRM to require employers to "report all instances of actual knowl- edge of misuse, including direct observations of misuse and acknowledgements of misuse." Upon its effective date, likely late next year or early 2016, the Commercial Driver's License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will establish a database of CDL holders who have failed or refused to take a drug or alcohol test. Carriers will be required to submit such information to the database and will be required to query the database when hiring a new driver. They also will be re- quired to query the database annually for current drivers. The comment period was extended from April 21 to May 21 in response to an Owner-Operator Indepen- dent Drivers Association request. OOIDA noted in its com- ment the need for safeguards against carrier reporting measures. OOIDA is pushing for several inclusions in the rule to "prevent carriers from reporting false 'refusal' to the clearinghouse," which it says is "the most serious problem" its members have with the rule. — James Jaillet Logbook_0614.indd 17 6/3/14 10:53 AM