The largest waste collection and landfill management company in the United States, Waste Management Holdings (WM), is seeking a regulatory exemption from federal drug testing requirements that currently apply to its truck drivers. This request, if given the green light, would have an impact on about 21,000 drivers in the company.
WM has sent its exemption request to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The company explains that the current driver qualification and Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse rules are causing big administrative headaches. WM claims these regulations make it hard to act fast when waste collection needs change and to help out during emergencies, like when natural disasters strike.
In its application, WM stated that the requirements create undue administrative burdens and inefficiencies that restrict the company’s ability to respond to fluctuations in waste collection demand and assist in emergency relief efforts. The company runs under 83 different U.S. Department of Transportation registration numbers. That makes it tough to manage driver qualifications across its many subsidiaries.
WM has more than 12,000 trucks that run on natural gas. The company says this is the biggest fleet of heavy-duty natural gas trucks in North America. Because of how WM works, drivers often have to move to different places for a short time. This means they might need to drive trucks with different DOT numbers. When drivers switch to a new truck, they have to qualify again. This makes moving drivers around a bit of a hassle.
The current regulations require WM to submit detailed employment histories, contact previous employers for accident records, and obtain medical examiner certificates for each driver. This process can take several days, potentially delaying the transfer of drivers when demand surges or during emergencies. WM maintains that it has a centralized system to monitor the qualification and drug and alcohol status of its drivers, which it believes is sufficient to ensure safety without the need for repetitive requalifications.
WM’s request has precedent. The company pointed out that the FMCSA previously granted a similar exemption to Motion Picture Compliance Solutions (MPCS) for a trucking company consortium, allowing them to bypass certain Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse requirements. This exemption is set to expire in 2025, indicating that the FMCSA is open to considering such requests under specific circumstances.
As WM awaits a decision from the FMCSA, the outcome of this exemption request could have significant implications for the waste management industry, particularly in how companies manage their driver workforce in response to changing demands and emergency situations. The company emphasizes that its centralized oversight of driver qualifications is designed to maintain safety while improving operational efficiency.
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