FMCSA extends comment period on drug-testing database proposal

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending the comment period to May 21 for a proposal that would establish a national database of commercial truck and bus drivers’ drug and alcohol testing results.

FMCSA hopes the proposed clearinghouse will prevent commercial driver’s license holders from evading negative test results by seeking work in another state.

The original comment period for the proposal was 60 days. However, the Grain Valley, MO-based Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association petitioned on April 15 to extend the deadline by an additional 60 days, arguing that the complexity and importance of the proposal required more time.

FMCSA determined that half of the time OOIDA requested would be sufficient to address the association’s concerns.