Suhash Harwani of Quest Diagnostics writes: the emerging evidence propels an argument that employers — particularly in the transportation sector — should stay vigilant on drug testing.

New Mexico lawmakers recently enacted legislation requiring federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse results be used before granting commercial driver licenses.

The total number of truck driver drug violations increased by 10% in 2021, compared with total numbers reported in 2020, according to a new federal Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse summary report.

The number of positive driver drug tests through August increased by nearly 13%, when compared with a year ago, according to a new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse summary report.

More than 56,000 drug and alcohol violations were recorded last year in a database intended to track truck drivers’ compliance history and prevent them from job-hopping in the event of a failed drug test.

The latest economic report from ATA estimates the driver shortage to be over 60,000. What role has the pandemic played? Older drivers chose to retire while potential drivers found licensing difficult with the closure of state motor vehicles offices. The launch of the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse database also impacted the number of drivers on the road.

Nearly 46,000 driver drug-related violations have been recorded in the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse during its first 10 months of operation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a proposed rule that would plug an existing “information gap” to ensure that state driver licensing agencies are prohibited from issuing, renewing, upgrading or transferring a commercial driver license or learner permit to truck drivers with drug and alcohol violations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is functioning normally after experiencing connectivity issues that rendered the system unable to validate commercial driver licenses.

A group that provides commercial motor vehicle driver services for major motion pictures studios, independent productions and commercial production houses in the U.S. has asked for an exemption that would allow it to conduct limited queries of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for its drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced March 5.