As Carrier Drug Violations Rise, Ally Logistics has a Zero Tolerance Policy

By Seth Newman

A recent study by the Alliance of Driver Safety and Security known as the “Trucking Alliance” has discovered that thousands of drug users are slipping through the federal drug screening program and becoming commercial drivers for carriers across the U.S. 

The data from the study showed that over six percent of the 151,500 applicants in the transportation industry that were tested, failed either hair-analysis or urine samples, or both. The survey projects a 99 percent accuracy report. With the 3.5 million commercial truck drivers on the road today, the sample suggests that over 300,000 drivers would either fail the drug test or refuse it. With those numbers, that means over 8.5 percent of truckers on the road are allegedly abusing drugs. 

“We have a huge drug abuse problem in the trucking industry, and should actually purge an estimated 300,000 commercial drivers to clean it up,” said Trucking Alliance Managing Director Lane Kidd in a statement. “No wonder truck accidents are on the rise.”

The Department of Transportation (DOT) currently does not use hair analysis for drug testing which is what the Trucking Alliance is pushing for. The collected data has been submitted to the DOT for a hearing on the future of trucking. 

At Ally Logistics, we help keep our customer’s freight safe by using “Saferwatch”, a tool that acts as an extra safety net as we onboard carriers. Ally Logistics’ Operations/Carrier Onboarding Manager Steve Forcier gave some insight on how he uses Saferwatch when onboarding new carriers. 

“Saferwatch is a great tool that helps us weed out carriers and bring issues that have happened on previous loads with other brokers to light, “Forcier said. “We can see watchdog reports, inspections and DOT violations upfront and clearly.”

Those DOT violations, also include drug history. Ally Logistics can see the history in the drug inspection section and the carrier will be flagged if there are any violations. 

“There is a certain section where drug and alcohol violations are brought right to the surface and a feature in Saferwatch that automatically denies the carrier from entering our system,” Forcier said. “This helps keep these negligent companies away from our customer’s freight.” 

Ally Logistics has a zero tolerance policy for carriers with drug violations. Forcier heads the carrier team that makes sure that any carriers onboarded, are drug-free and pass all inspections in order to haul freight. If any carrier doesn’t pass the drug section in Saferwatch, their status in our system is turned to a “no” and will not be able to haul any freight for Ally. 

When presented the estimated number of commercial drivers abusing drugs, Forcier was surprised. 

“Honestly, I’m shocked,” Forcier said. “I understand  the demanding hours and regulations that can attribute to people resorting to drug abuse, but when they bring that to work with them it’s ultimately frightening. As I travel the highway everyday, I’m going to be more skeptical of who is following the law and who is taking the law into their own hands.”

While there are commercial drivers from large nationwide carriers to small owner/operator carriers, Ally Logistics uses Saferwatch on all of them to help protect your freight. With a zero tolerance policy, you can rest-easy knowing that your freight is in capable hands that follow the trucking regulations and rules. To see how Ally Logistics can help protect and transport your freight, call us at 888-466-1024 to speak to a representative.