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In an effort to enhance the effectiveness of pre-employment and random drug testing for holders of a commercial driver’s license (CDL), among other industries, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) are mulling the inclusion of hair tests. Currently, fleets may conduct these on top of the mandated urine test, which monitor a shorter time period.

A criticism of the current setup is that failing a hair test does not count against the driver or get logged in the federal drug and alcohol clearinghouse, so that person can then go to another company where they have a better chance to beat the test. The range for hair tests is far greater, but illegal substances take a few days to metabolize and enter the follicle, which poses another problem. The HHS method would call for the hair test along with a saliva or urine sample.

On…