Mexican Trucks at the Senate

PolitiTruck.com ^ | 10/20/07 | Michael Howe

[mhowe]

Senator Pryor also inquired about drug testing and physical examinations for Mexican truck drivers. Peters indicated she is satisfied with how that process is working. “American labs are conducting those tests. I also asked the office of drug control policy to validate that we have the proper procedures in place as well as the independent panels to validate those procedures,” said DOT Secretary Peters.

Calvin Scovell, III, Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation, was less confident about the safety of the Mexican Truck Demonstration Program and shared his concerns with the Committee in his opening statements.

[mhowe]

What was most interesting to me: 1. The DOT Inspector General is far less enthusiastic about the Mexican Trucks than Mary Peters is 2. With Satellite Tracking - Peters announced that program prior to doing any research on who could provide the technology - now they have to wait 3. We have absolutely nothing to worry about with regard to drug testing because it is all done in American Labs.....hmmmm, I wonder who collects the specimens and where?

[papasmurf]

I have personal knowledge that there is no verifiable “Chain of Custody” practice in place for drug testing. So their BS of using American labs does no good at all. Neither do they have in place a certified system for medical screening..i.e. DOT type physical examinations, records maintenance and access/verification procedures. Nor is there a positive identification mechanism to ensure that Juan Valdez is actually the same Juan Valdez listed on the documents.

...and there is more, much more, about this whole deal that is not playing according to Hoyle.