Truck drivers who fail a drug and alcohol test will now be listed on a national clearinghouse, set to be established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA).
The final rule will contain information about violations of FMCSA’s drug and alcohol testing program for the holders of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). Roadway safety will be improved, FMSCA said, by identifying drivers who commit drug and alcohol violations.
Employers will be required to query the clearinghouse system to determine whether current and prospective employees have unresolved drug or alcohol violations that make them ineligible to performing safety-sensitive functions, such as driving a commercial motor vehicle.
The clearinghouse makes it more difficult for drivers to conceal their drug and alcohol violations “merely by moving on to the next job or the next jurisdiction,” FMSCA said.
The agency estimates about $196 million in annual safety benefits (consisting of $55 million from the annual queries of current employees and $141 million from pre-employment queries) from crash reductions resulting from the rule. The new rule will cost $154 million each year, FMSCA estimated.
Total Net Benefit Projection Over a 10-Year Period
| Total | Annual | 10-year | 10-year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discount rate | 7% | 3% | |
| Total Benefits | $196,000,000 | $1,472,985,521 | $1,722,077,349 |
| Total Costs | $154,000,000 | $1,157,345,766 | $1,353,060,774 |
| Total Net Benefits | $42,000,000 | $315,639,754 | $369,016,575 |
The final rule, published in the Federal Register, contains a breakdown of the projected annual costs. The rule will go into effect. Jan. 4, 2017, with a Jan. 6, 2020, compliance date.
This article was published by the American Society of Safety Professionals.
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