In recognition that drug use in the work place is a pervasive problem, in 1986 an executive order was signed by the president calling for a drug-free work place. As a result, the U.S. Department of Transportation, in September 1987, became the first executive agency to adopt a drug-testing policy. The origins and current status of transit industry drug-testing requirements for safety-sensitive workers are reviewed. Drug testing has been shown to effectively discourage the abuse of drugs. Currently, UMTA's drug-testing requirements have been suspended. Congress is expected, however, to provide UMTA the authority to reinstate drug-testing requirements. Small urban and rural transit agencies are concerned that the implementation and enforcement of drug-testing guidelines and regulations will place a severe and disproportionate administrative burden on them. Testing requirements are perceived by some as rendering it difficult or impossible to purchase maintenance and other support services. Most small agencies that buy maintenance services currently do so through small purchase agreements. They do not purchase services through the competitive bidding process. To examine the accuracy of the perception of the drug-testing issue in the transit industry, a limited number of agencies that competitively bid and procure maintenance services were surveyed. Data collected indicate that maintenance service contractors are generally willing to comply with drug-testing requirements. Furthermore, most reported good service and indicated that they had accrued cost savings through competitively awarded maintenance contracts.
Samenvatting