TruckingIndustry.news

Hair Drug Test Debate Heats Up Again

by Jana Ritter - Published: 10/21/2015

Last July, the Senate passed a highway bill that included a proposal for Federally mandated hair drug testing for truck drivers and bus drivers. Supporters of the proposal reasoned that hair testing is more difficult to beat than traditional urine testing simply because signs of drug use last longer in hair follicles than in urine. But Edward Wytkind, President of AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD), says otherwise and he is leading the fight to axe the proposal all together.

                                                                hair drug testing truck drivers

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While traditional urine testing typically only captures drug use within a couple of weeks, hair-testing uses a follicle of hair to test for signs of drugs within a 90-day period. ATA President Bill Graves has been among the supporters for hair testing and had written to lawmakers urging Congress to approve the transition. "Every day, thousands of hair tests are performed worldwide within both the private and public sectors. Their reason for using hair testing is laudable ... hair testing is an effective tool for identifying drug users due to its long detection window and because it is difficult for donors to beat the test," Graves stated.

But Wytkind is also writing to lawmakers and pointing out reasons to suggest just the opposite, that hair testing is less reliable than urine testing. "It is widely known that hair specimen can test positive for a drug that its donor was merely exposed to but never actually ingested," Wytkind wrote in his letter. He explains that hair absorbs substances that people come into contact with through the environment and labs performing hair tests are currently incapable of distinguishing between drugs that drivers were simply exposed to or what they actually ingested. Wytkind also points out that the DOT has been using high scientific standards to develop procedures for drug testing bus and truck drivers, and urine testing has been a reliable method used since 1991. "By stark contrast, Health and Human Services has not approved hair specimen for use in drug tests, and no HHS-issued technical standards for hair testing exist — and for good reason. Hair testing is not ready for primetime," he added.

Critics of hair testing also suggest that it can discriminate against minorities who typically have coarser follicles as certain drugs bond at greater rates to hair that is darker and more porous, which could make it more likely for minority drivers to be banned from driving.

"We all agree that maintaining a drug-free workforce is critically important to keeping our transportation system as safe as possible. But testing hardworking drivers using an unproven, unscientific and potentially biased measure won’t fulfill that goal,” Wytkind concludes.


Brad Davis
Brad Davis
So they will take hair to test for a harmless drug.. But got people driving around high as a kite on prescription medication
John Pearce
John Pearce
We have Obama as President so why not a Hair Drug Test ?????
Al MacNeil
Al MacNeil
Drug testing is big business. Who benefits if more testing is mandated? How much $ did drug testing industry contribute to your politicians? What role did their lobbyists play in drafting this legislation? Same way Obamacare got passed.
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
Sounds good to me. I knew some into drugs at MMI talking mad shit because they loved their drugs and had figured out how to beat piss tests. When I casually dropped one day the next random test was hair I thought they were going to come unglued. If the thought of a hair test scared them that much, that is the right way to go.
Jim Rigney
Jim Rigney
I think we should drug test the limo drivers that drive around these jerks that make all these crazy laws and then we should drug tested the jerks that make you crazy laws because obviously they're on drugs
Braxton Anders
Braxton Anders
They will lose half the population of drivers just over pot itself
Eddie Venatta
Eddie Venatta
http://www.medicaldaily.com/hair-follicle-drug-tests-can-lead-false-positive-thanks-secondhand-traces-marijuana-356660 Please note in this link. Just in the year this study was done. Quest said they have an estimated 210,000 false positives just out of their own testing. And look at the last paragraph. Just walking by someone who is smoking can give you a false positive.
Aaron Baltosser
Aaron Baltosser
No it can't that has been tried in military circles more than once and utterly disproven.
Jason Everhart
Jason Everhart
Drugs are bad Mmmkay
Randy Rekow
Randy Rekow
If this is a drug test that has 'false positives' & costs more than the present one then it's a waste of time & money until a much better way of testing is possible.
James R Maxwell
James R Maxwell
Tired of being treated like a criminal. Enough already. If you have some PC, then test.
Joseph Russo
Joseph Russo
Why not do hair testing on politicians? Test results would indicate how full of shit they are.
Erick Painter
Erick Painter
You can shave your whole body and they could get it from your asscrack. Just like guys on parole or probation. If I have to go that far you can keep your Fucking job. Before you think I do drugs let me say I had a hip replacement and 3 major surgeries on my leg. I quit prescription pain pills cold turkey and was sick for 4 days so I could get my cdls. That was 10 years ago. Painkillers are a pharmaceutical racket.
George Sabaluski
George Sabaluski
Touch my hair & go to hospital with a broken arm!!!
Christopher L. Pitchford
Christopher L. Pitchford
It doesn't matter to me. I don't do drugs, but why not drug test the people who's making all the rules. Then it'll be a fair game
Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson
Drawing blood will shed more light on finding drugs then hair. If they're continuing to keep pushing more things on us then they might as well pay us government pay. Since they think they own the industry.
Stephen Sprague
Stephen Sprague
Really look at military wages
Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson
Depends on your rank
George Latourell
George Latourell
Whether you agree with this proposal or not it is a violation of the 4th amendment. Don't think so? Read up a little bit.
William Seifert
William Seifert
I think its stupid. If you cant tell your hiring a burnout. You must be unqualified as a human resourses expert.......
Joseph Don
Joseph Don
Think its awesome..do drugs dont drive..that simple..my life might depend on it some day just sayin
Michael Cupp
Michael Cupp
Tell me how is a man or woman who smoked a joint while on home time any more dangerous then the guy who drank on home time.
Joseph Don
Joseph Don
Thats just it .. they cant distinguish between home and road like a breath alysor .. so hands off
Michael Cupp
Michael Cupp
No they can determine with a blood test. They test for cannaboid in your blood. As an ex smoker I know cause its the only test that can tell just like alcohol. It costs a little more buy I'll gladly pay for it over taking a driving under the influence anyday of the week.
Erick Painter
Erick Painter
I would also have to say its not just wether a driver does drugs or not but how invasive companies are becoming.
Eric Nissen
Eric Nissen
Don't bother me, but I think it's another needless expense for companies and o/o's
Michael Calderon
Michael Calderon

Michael Calderon
Michael Calderon
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Jon Heine
Jon Heine
No big deal
Tommy Reece
Tommy Reece
Don't bother me I'm clean in every way
Shaine Powell
Shaine Powell
Either way! I'm clean unless JACK DANIELS shows up
Sal Veloz
Sal Veloz
Amazing, what will they think of next. Maybe I shouldn't ask.
Chris Glaziner
Chris Glaziner
My company does it already so I'm good
Doyle York
Doyle York
Only hair Ill keep will be on my ball sack!!!
Chris Neal
Chris Neal
Jb Hunt will detach it fer ya. They are all about that hair test
Erick Painter
Erick Painter
What about your asscrack? There's viable hair there!
James McCreight
James McCreight
Ludicrous and a huge waste of tax payer dollars.
Mike Csaplik Jr.
Mike Csaplik Jr.
Doesn't matter to me. Already do
PJ Heinz
PJ Heinz
Can't you all find someone else to pick on? We've got hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens walking across our border every year and an unbelievable amount of sanctuary cities...that pick and choose which laws they want to follow and enforce. So until our own government enforces all of the other laws on the books, I'm not following any of these.
William A Hancock
William A Hancock
Don't care if they do or not !
Wes Rogers
Wes Rogers
I think it's bull an invasion of privacy
Richard Harris
Richard Harris
test me then ! im clean ! you mess up my long curls , i f**k your head up. period.
Steve Boelter
Steve Boelter
Just wear wig lol
Erick Painter
Erick Painter
Bullshit rules being created by bullshit companies.
John Ortega
John Ortega
If you dont use drugs why worry
Ruben Luna
Ruben Luna
Go ahead make my day
Tim Zacharias
Tim Zacharias
Don't do drugs no problem
Terry Lytle
Terry Lytle
Let's start with the Congress and senators
Brandon Shaffer
Brandon Shaffer
This is a violation of right to privacy! Maybe we should test these legislatures wanting to levee this crap on us
Chris Neal
Chris Neal
JB Hunt loves that hair testing crap.
Douglas Valeria
Douglas Valeria
As Iong as those on welfare have to give hair n blood I'm good with it
William L Meyer
William L Meyer
They can go a head and test my rabbit,see if I care!
Patrick Noud Jr
Patrick Noud Jr
What should ut matter if you don't have anything to hide
Duane Henry
Duane Henry
William Harlow here we go again.