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<br />Drug and alcohol <br />testing for <br />commercial <br />drivers <br />ELLEN LONGFELLOW AND <br />KAY MCALONEY <br />he Federal Omnibus <br />C <br />Transportation Employee <br />Testing Act of 1991 requires <br />drug and alcohol testing of <br />employees driving motor <br />vehicles insafety-sensitive <br />functions. Prior to 1994, local govern- <br />ments were only required to do such <br />testing of their mass transit employees. <br />In February 1994, rules extended these <br />testing requirements to other local <br />government employees. Local govern- <br />ments now must test any employee who <br />is required to have a commercial <br />driver's license (CDL) to perform a city <br />job. The federal rule pre-empts the <br />Minnesota state drug and alcohol <br />testing statute where it is inconsistent. <br />The intent of the act and rules is to <br />provide for safer roads, airways and <br />tracks by removing drivers who are <br />impaired b}~ alcohol and/or drugs. <br />Studies show that drugs and alcohol are <br />often contributing factors in traffic <br />accidents. <br />Which employers are <br />covered by these <br />rules? <br />Any employer who has an employ- <br />A ee that is required to have. a CDL. <br />Not sure how to spell the oast name of the <br />Eveleth Mayor? <br />(That's Vlaisavljevich) <br />Confused about the population of Tenny? <br />(three) <br />Need to mail a letter to Lakeville City Half? <br />(20195 Holyoke Ave. Lakeville, 55044-9047) <br />You need the League of Minnesota Cities 1995 Directory of <br />Minnesota City Officials. It contains names of city officials and <br />department heads, city hall street addresses and .zip codes, <br />designation of plan Q and Plan B cities, council meeting dates, <br />telephone numbers of city hall or city clerk, 1993 population <br />estimates, and legislative congressional districts. <br />• <br />I L s` <br />For more information contact the League at .(612) 490-5500 or <br />(800) 925-1122. <br />What are the <br />effective dates? <br />January 1, 1995 for those employ- <br />ers with 50 or more commercial <br />drivers. January 1, 1996 for those em- <br />ployers with less than 50 commercial <br />drivers. <br />Q Which employees <br />must be tested? <br />Any employee who has a GDL <br />under Minnesota law. CDLs are <br />required to drive commercial vehicles <br />and to drive non-commercial vehicles if <br />they are used for a few specific pur- <br />poses. CDL classifications under <br />Minnesota Statute 171.02 subd. 2 <br />includes Class CC, Class B and Class A <br />vehicles. Commercial vehicles include <br />vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 <br />pounds, carry more than 15 passengers <br />and transport hazardous materials. <br />Non-commercial vehicles that require <br />CDLs include single unit vehicles with <br />hazardous waste endorsement, and <br />single unit vehicles with school bus <br />endorsement for vehicles designed for <br />15 or fewer passengers -including the <br />driver. Vehicles specifically exempted <br />from the CDL requirement are fire <br />trucks and emergency fire equipment, <br />whether they weigh more than 26,000 <br />pounds or not, while driven by an on- <br />duty firefighter. <br />What is a safety- <br />. sensitive function? <br />The following on-dutp functions <br />are safety-sensitive: <br />• When a driver is waiting to be <br />dispatched; <br />• When inspecting and servicing any <br />commercial vehicle; <br />O Driving time; <br />! All other time in a commercial <br />vehicle, other than sleeping in a <br />sleeper berth; <br />! ~ti'hen loading and unloading, or <br />supervising loading and unloading of <br />a vehicle; <br />!All time spent on requirements when <br />an accident occurs; and <br />! All times at a disabled vehicle. <br />24 MtNNE50TA CIT1E5 /SEPTEMBER 1995 <br />