WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Senators John Boozman and Joe Manchin recently introduced legislation that would allow the Department of Transportation to recognize hair testing as an alternative option for trucking companies to conduct drug and alcohol testing, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Senate.

The rationale for the bill is that when it comes to detecting employee drug and alcohol use, urinalysis is regarded as often less effective in detecting substance abuse-  as it provides only a two- to three-day window for detection– while hair testing provides a 60- to 90-day window.

And the U.S. trucking industry wants it approved. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is urging lawmakers to support this bipartisan legislation as it would “allow trucking companies to use a highly effective tool– hair testing– to meet federal requirements and prevent drug users from getting behind the wheel of trucks.”

ATA president and CEO Bill Graves commented: “ATA is committed to improving highway safety, including doing all we can to prevent individuals who use drugs or alcohol from driving trucks. ATA’s advocacy [of mandatory drug and alcohol testing] has resulted in a steady decline in the small percentage of drivers who use drugs, and hair testing is the next logical step.”

Graves added that while “trucking’s positive testing rate is remarkably low, Congress should provide a means for fleets, as part of the DOT testing regime, to further identify and eliminate from the industry those who don’t share the industry’s commitment to highway safety.”

According to ATA, some fleets voluntarily conduct hair tests, in addition to mandatory urine tests, to identify habitual drug users who may otherwise briefly abstain from use or otherwise attempt to “beat the test” to gain trucking employment. But the U.S. government requires that urinalysis testing also take place.

“This legislation eliminates the duplicative drug-testing process and allows trucking companies to use the more effective option, without having to pay for two tests,” said Sen. Boozman.

According to the U.S. Senate press release, from May 2006 to December 2014, J.B. Hunt Transport’s drug-testing data found that 110 driver applicants failed the urine test while 3,845 people had drug-positive hair test results. Schneider National’s pre-employment drug testing data from March 2008 to June 2012 found 120 prospective drivers failed the urine test while 1,400 applicants had drug-positive hair test results.

But under  the current law, trucking companies that choose to use hair testing for more accurate test results must bear the added cost of administering both types of testing.

With files from HDT’s David Cullen.