Trucking Through the States

State trucking associations are experts at the art of flattery by imitation. When one association executive comes up with a good idea and persuades lawmakers to go along with it, other states are quick to follow.

Two recent examples are “roadability” legislation, which assigns responsibility for the condition of intermodal chassis, trailers and containers to those who tender the equipment, and drug testing laws that give carriers a better way to find out whether a prospective driver has any history of illegal drug use.

South Carolina was the first to approve a roadability law, in June 1998. Illinois and Louisiana have since created similar rules, and several state associations hope more will do so in 2000.

The drug-testing idea originated in California, but Oregon was the first state to push it through the legislature. Starting May 1, notice of a positive test result will be placed in a trucker’s commercial driver license record. The state law also tightened the requirements on carriers to have drug and alcohol testing programs in place.

For the full story, see the Nov. 1 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.