Washington Update on Truck Driver Hiring Rules
A third-party group overseeing drug testing for truck drivers working with film studios has successfully persuaded regulators to continue a more lenient hiring approach compared to standard freight haulers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended for another five years the exemption given in 2020 to DISA Entertainment Compliance Solutions (DECS), formerly known as Motion Picture Compliance Solutions. This allows DECS member companies to bypass a comprehensive check of FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse during the initial preemployment screening of drivers.
Rather than a complete database query, DECS member companies can perform a limited query to meet preemployment screening requirements. This exemption will remain in effect until 2030.
According to FMCSA, the 2020 decision noted that DECS’s method for selecting qualified drivers is tailored to tackle safety issues associated with drug and alcohol testing violations. They still believe that the exemption does not compromise safety since employers must conduct a full query if the limited one reveals any relevant driver information.
In its renewal request, DECS reiterated its earlier stance that this exemption, which is exclusive to its members, is primarily financially motivated. They argued that adhering to current clearinghouse regulations would significantly hinder members’ ability to rapidly hire drivers, ultimately resulting in increased production days and costs within the U.S. film industry.
DECS emphasized that the exemption does not lower safety standards, as both employers and drivers remain accountable to federal drug and alcohol policies while also following DECS’s own testing protocols.
Support for DECS’s renewal request came from major Hollywood studios like Sony Pictures Entertainment and Netflix Studios LLC. Netflix noted in their comments to FMCSA that the exemption has been crucial for improving operational efficiency in the entertainment sector, reducing administrative hurdles, and facilitating quicker project turnarounds while maintaining safety commitments.
