TRAA News

• DOT ISSUED FINAL RULE ON ORAL FLUID TESTING FOR DRUGS

  • Thursday, September 14, 2023
  • | Posted by TRAA Office

  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently issued its final ruling that among other items, authorizes employers to use oral fluid drug testing as an alternative testing methodology to urine drug testing (49 CFR part 40).   In order for an employer to implement oral fluid testing under the Department's regulation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will need to certify at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing, which has not yet been done.   The final rule includes other provisions to update the Department's regulation and to harmonize, as needed, with the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by HHS.     In addition, this rule amends the FAA, FMCSA, FRA and FTA regulations to ensure consistency within the Department of Transportation and by removing or adjusting references to the word "urine" and /or add references to oral fluid, as well as, removing or amending some definitions for conformity and to make other miscellaneous technical changes or corrections.   As you may recall, TRAA has filed a comment in support of the proposal last year. As an industry overwhelmingly made up of small businesses who struggle every year to conscientiously abide by government regulation, TRAA supported the addition of fluid specimen testing as an alternative method since it's a lower cost and faster solution with equivalent efficacy that ultimately benefits employers and employees alike.

• TRAA LEADING EFFORTS AGAINST BIGGER TRUCKS

  • Tuesday, August 29, 2023
  • | Posted by TRAA Office

  Certain business interests in D.C. are pushing for the passage of federal legislation that would increase truck weights on our nation's roads. Most recently, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed H.R.3372 out of committee. The bill would:    Create a “pilot project” that would allow any state to increase truck weights from 80,000 pounds to 91,000 pounds for up to 10 years on its interstates; and Raising federal truck weight limits from 80,000 pounds to 88,000 pounds for trucks carrying automobiles.   TRAA has long opposed increases in truck weight. Increasing truck weight would only increase the amount of time our operators would be roadside splitting combination vehicles and in harm's way. And, unfortunately, Congress has failed to enact legislation that would provide an exemption for towers for both length and weight. Note, H.R.3372 passing committee does not mean it's passed the House of Representative or been enacted.   TRAA has taken an increasingly larger role within the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) to fight these provisions. Our efforts now are focused on preventing the legislation from moving forward. TRAA is actively participating in CABT Hill meetings, has sent letters to Congress on this issue, and is playing a lead role in the CABT with over a dozen Members of Congress. 

• Towing Industry Applauds Introduction of DRIVE ACT

  • Thursday, August 10, 2023
  • | Posted by TRAA Office

  U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) recently introduced the “Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers (DRIVE) Act” (S.2671). If passed, the bill would prohibit the FMCSA from implementing any rule or regulation mandating large commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) engaged in interstate commerce be equipped with a speed limiting device set to a maximum speed. TRAA is proud to have supported this legislation through our many meetings with Senator Daines' office and honored to be specifically acknowledged in the Senator's press release.   TRAA has actively opposed FMCSA's proposals to require speed limiting devices based on our belief that CMV speed limiters would adversely affect roadway safety for motorists and traffic incident management responders.   ?TRAA has advocated directly with Members of Congress on this issue, including Senator Daines, and participate in an anti-speed limited coalition with OOIDA and other stakeholders. We are currently working to help secure co-sponsors for the bill.