Editorial: Yes, to the 25% Testing Rate

So often, what appears at first glance to be mind-numbing statistical minutiae is actually a matter of genuine importance with significant real-world consequences.

Consider the case of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Dec. 21 announcement on a minimum random drug-testing rate. For this year, the figure is sliced in half to 25% from 50% in 2015.

FMCSA did so after careful monitoring of drug test results and certifying that trucking’s safety-sensitive personnel were found in violation of rules less than 1% of the time for three straight years. That’s enough numbers and percentage signs to make anyone’s eyes glaze over, but for those with the fortitude to plow all the way through a Federal Register filing, it really means something.

“The industry has met the performance standard and, to his credit, acting [FMCSA] Administrator Scott Darling used his discretion and made the right decision to lower the rate,” said Dave Osiecki, chief of national advocacy for American Trucking Associations.

This year, therefore, trucking faces the same statistical standards as the nation’s other critical transportation industries, including aviation, maritime, railroads, transit and pipelines.

A few stray scofflaws notwithstanding, trucking company managers and drivers have taken very seriously the obligation of safe operations in driving tractor-trailers weighing 80,000 pounds at highway speeds. Holding violations to less than 1% over 36 months is an outstanding demonstration of a commitment to excellence.

While the new 25% rate means carriers can cut their testing in half, it is not an invitation to slack off. To remain at that standard, the violation rate must remain below 1%.

This change comes on the heels of the enactment of the FAST Act transportation-funding law, which contains a provision on drug testing. FAST says companies can use hair testing instead of urine testing for assessing drug violations.

ATA has been urging the switch to hair because it provides a longer record of potential substance abuse. The federation helped convince Congress to make drug-testing safety more rigorous.

Trucking frequently has quarrels with federal regulators — often over statistical matters, such as Compliance, Safety, Accountability — but this time around, we salute the industry for demonstrating its commitment to safety in such a tangible way and FMCSA officials for staying in touch with current industry data and reacting to them quickly.