The American Trucking Associations (ATA) president and CEO, Chris Spear issued a welcome letter to 
Secretary Thomas Price, congratulating him on becoming the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and also asking for his help in continuing the membership’s goal to improve highway safety.
Spear asked Secretary Price to complete a HHS statutory mandate. According to Price’s letter, section 5402 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act (P.L. 114-94) required HHS to issue scientific and technical guidelines for hair testing as a method of detecting the use of controlled substances for purpose of section 31306 of Title 49.
ATA is the largest national trade association representing the trucking industry, with more than 30,000 members. Highway safety is a core interest among members.
Federal law requires trucking companies drug test new drivers and randomly test existing drivers. If hair testing is mandated, employers will have a longer detection window, with easier access to collect samples and a harder time to adulterate compared to urinalysis.
To read the complete letter, click here.
