Truckies back random drug tests

Tasmania’s transport union supports random drug testing of drivers.

The Transport Workers Union has backed a Tasmanian Coroner’s call for all trucking companies to introduce random drug testing.

Coroner Chris Webster made the recommendation after an inquest into the death of 27-year-old truck driver Timothy Bennett.

Mr Bennett had toxic levels of ecstasy in his system when he lost control of his truck at Mount Arrowsmith on the state’s west coast early last year.

The union’s Leeroy Doble says most of Tasmania’s major transport companies have have drug and alcohol policies in place, and the union backs random drug testing.

“Yes we’re all for it, we’re quite happy to work with companies and set up a drug and alcohol policy but we don’t condone urine sampling for the privacy reasons.”

But he says drug use is not common in the industry.

“This is actually the first time I’ve heard of a driver with that chemical in his system,” he said.

The inquest heard Mr Bennett was not the only occupant of the truck when he crashed. His passenger suffered devastating injuries.

Source – http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/25/2829532.htm