Truckers Warn Federal Regulators That Drug-Testing Bottlenecks Are Leaving Many Unable to Drive

A driver leaves the yard after filling up his gas tanker truck at Marathon Oil in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 20, 2021. George Frey/Getty Images

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has warned federal regulators that disruptions affecting drug and alcohol testing pose significant challenges for truck drivers, leaving many of them unable to legally drive.

In a letter (pdf) sent to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Oct. 13, OOIDA President and CEO Todd Spencer said that disruptions affecting FMCSA’s testing system are causing “significant challenges and frustration” for truck drivers.