A weed problem

Story by: Alan Adler @ FreightWaves

The legalization of marijuana in 11 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada could be the next cudgel used against truckers, according to ATA President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Spear.

“You can just see the trial lawyers – sitting on the edge of their high, wing-back leather chairs – drooling over the thought of more legal ambiguity,” Spear said in his speech. “We can’t just sit back and hand them yet another opportunity to litigate our industry.”

The association scheduled the initial meeting of its Controlled Substances, Health and Wellness Subcommittee during the convention. The goal, Spear said, is creating a trucking-led policy platform that helps lawmakers and regulators make informed decisions about the impact of substance abuse on safety and interstate commerce.

The ATA also will continue to press federal agencies to allow hair follicle testing in place of urine testing for drug use and have those results included in the FMCSA’s commercial driver’s license Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse that begins operating in January 2020. The database will contain information on violations of the controlled substances and alcohol testing program. According to Adler’s article

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Source and credits: freightwaves.com / Alan Adler  /  iTrucker  / Mario Pawlowski