Category: DOT Drug Testing News

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DOT Drug Testing
DOT Testing & Compliance

Schedule Drug, Alcohol, DNA Tests

On October 17, 2018, the Federal Transit Administration issued a “Dear Colleague” letter announcing that effective January 1, 2019, the minimum rate of random drug testing will increase from 25 percent to 50 percent of covered employees for employers subject to FTA’s drug and alcohol regulation. This change is due to an increase in the industry’s “positive rate” as reflected in random drug test data for calendar year 2017.  The alcohol testing rate is unchanged for 2019 and will remain at 10 percent.

The FTA will formally announce this increase in a forthcoming Federal Register notice, but has issued the “Dear Colleague” letter in advance to inform transit providers and partner associations of the 2019 drug testing increase and to facilitate early planning.

Click here to read the FTA Full letter in its entirety.

For more information or to enroll in our DOT Consortium call us today at (800)-221-4291

 

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Senate Democrats want Pilot-Rest Provision in FAA Bill

April 20, 2016

Democrats want Pilot-Rest Provision FAA Bill

As both sides of the aisle try to push the Federal Authorization Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill through, Senate Democrats are looking to add on a pilot rest provision.  Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are leading the fight to attach an amendment to the FAA bill that would limit cargo plane pilots to flying no more than nine hours a day, the same standard for passenger pilots. Cargo pilots can currently fly up to 16 hours a day.

Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the retired airline captain who safely executed an emergency landing in the Hudson River in 2009, is also backing the provision. He was spotted talking to members about the amendment in the Senate basement after a Tuesday press conference. “Fatigue is a killer,” Sullenberger said at the press conference. “It’s time to right this wrong. It’s time to fix this rule.”

“There are other problems with the bill that people are weighing as well, so I think this bill has a very shaky future,” Boxer added. Boxer said she would filibuster the FAA bill if the pilot provision does not get a vote. “I think this is an absurdity to block a vote on something as important at this,” she said.

The DOT standards require passenger pilots to be limited to flying either eight or nine hours, with a minimum of 10 rest hours and the opportunity for at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. But cargo pilots were not included in the rules.

A group of shipping companies wrote a letter to Senate leadership explaining why they thought the amendment “could actually make our operations less safe and put our pilots at risk.” “Measures used to prevent fatigue must be different for passenger carriers than they are for cargo carriers because our work schedules are different,” wrote FedEx, UPS, ABX Air and Atlas Air. “We fly fewer legs, have longer layovers, and have better rest opportunities on our trips, including while technically ‘on duty’ waiting for our nightly sorts to occur.”

With drug and alcohol testing centers throughout the entire United States, Accredited Drug Testing Inc. is available to answer all of your drug and alcohol testing questions and needs. For more information contact:

Andrew Gormally
Marketing/Industry Relations Assistant
Andrew@accredtiteddrugtesting.com
http://accrediteddrugtesting.net/
(800) 221-4291
Accredited Drug Testing Inc
Health Screening USA Inc

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Could the DOT Start Testing for Sleep Apnea?

April 8, 2016

DOT Sleep Apnea TestingThe Department of Transportation is seeking public comment whether it should mandate sleep tests that had not been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board. The DOT looks to understand the impacts of screening, evaluating and treating rail workers and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The National Transportation Safety Board recommended that DOT take action to address OSA screening and treatment for transportation workers.

FRA and FMCSA will host three public listening sessions to gather input on OSA in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. “It is imperative for everyone’s safety that commercial motor vehicle drivers and train operators be fully focused and immediately responsive at all times,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.  “DOT strongly encourages comment from the public on how to best respond to this national health and transportation safety issue.”

While government agencies have increasingly raised alarms about sleep apnea, tests for it aren’t mandated for highway drivers or rail workers. The disorder is triggered by a halt in breathing during the night, which causes people to repeatedly wake up and disrupts normal sleep patterns, leading to difficulty staying awake during the day and other health hazards.

Undiagnosed or inadequately treated moderate to severe OSA can cause unintended sleep episodes and deficits in attention, concentration, situational awareness, memory, and the capacity to safely respond to hazards when performing safety sensitive service.

“The collection and analysis of sound data on the impact of OSA must be our immediate first step,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling.  “We call upon the public to help us better understand the prevalence of OSA among commercial truck and bus drivers, as well as the safety and economic impacts on the truck and bus industries.”

With drug and alcohol testing centers throughout the entire United States, Accredited Drug Testing Inc. is available to answer all of your drug and alcohol testing questions and needs.

For more information contact:

Andrew Gormally
Marketing/Industry Relations Assistant
Andrew@accredtiteddrugtesting.com
http://accrediteddrugtesting.net/
(800) 221-4291
Accredited Drug Testing Inc