Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7-29-12

Over the last four years, some 38,000 would-be truck drivers applying at Schneider National Inc. have had their hair snipped for a drug test. Of those, 1,411 failed. The analysis detected cocaine, marijuana or other banned substances. Yet more than 90% of those 1,411 applicants were able to pass a urine test – the government-mandated, industry standard used to look for drugs.

In a way, that’s not surprising. Molecules of methamphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol and other drugs remain in urine for only a few days.

They can stay bound in hair for months or longer.

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Agency’s investigations removed 287 unsafe bus and truck drivers from the road

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced in early July, that 287 commercial bus and truck drivers were removed from the roads and more than 128 companies face enforcement actions as a result of the agency’s annual drug and alcohol strike force sweep that occurred from April 30 through May 11, 2012. Read more

We have finally made it to June and so many changes have taken place over the last year with surprisingly, so few bumps in the road, so to speak. Since early 2011 we have implemented more new and exciting programs and productivity improvements than over the previous 15 years. One has to wonder what we were doing prior to this. All these changes have been both enlightening and rewarding for the staff and we believe more importantly, a benefit to our valuable clients. Here is just a short list of things we have implemented over the last two years and believe us, the changes are paying off. Read more

May is National Click it or Ticket month and the California Office of Traffic Safety would like to remind you of the importance of buckling up when you hit the road.  Taking a couple of seconds to buckle your seat belt will not only save you the trouble and hassle of a ticket and the fine that comes along with it, but more importantly, it could save your life and the lives of your loved ones.  Seat belts account for saving more lives than any other countermeasure. Read more

A landmark decision against a trucking brokerage company for negligent hiring, an Oregon jury returned a verdict of nearly $5.2 million, including punitive damages, to the family of a man killed by a commercial truck.

Medford, Ore.—Handing down a decision that carries serious implications to organizations that hire trucking companies, a jury there in early March returned a verdict of nearly $5.2 million to the family of a man killed by a tractor/trailer in 2008. Linhart v. Heyl Logistics LLC, et al., Case No. 10-03100 (D. Or. Judge Panner, Docket No. 230). Attorneys for plaintiff Kelly Linhart argued successfully that trucking broker Heyl Logistics failed to perform due diligence when it hired Washington Transportation to haul goods for bottled water giant Nestle Waters North America. Read more

On January 17, 2012, a man residing in South Burlington Vermont pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Brattleboro, Vermont, to making a false statement on a matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in relation to a scheme to defraud transportation companies employing drivers subject to random drug testing. Read more