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DID YOU EVER WONDER WHY THERE IS DRUG TESTING
IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY?

First, of course, Congress passed the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 that gives the Department of Transportation a mandate to implement the testing. But why? Regrettably, alcohol and drugs are a factor in a significant percentage of transportation-related accidents each year. This alarming reality has serious consequences for employers and employees within the industry as well as members of the general public who rely on transportation systems.

A Federal government survey revealed that rates of substance abuse among four different types of personnel within the transportation industry are as follows:

Occupation	Past-Year Illicit Drug Use%	Heavy Alcohol Use%
Truck Drivers (light)	18.9	15.1
Vehicle Repairers	17.0	14.9
Truck Drivers (heavy)	16.4	13.3
Bus Drivers	13.6	6.7

(Source: US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Worker Drug Use and workplace Policies and Programs.)

Gary L. Glisan
President
Superior Training Solutions, Inc.