Truck Driver/CDL

Why trucking is becoming more difficult in China right now

Generally speaking, the trucking industry is extremely stable. No matter what happens, there will always be a need for logistics — consumers will always need products to get from point A to point B. For a long time, there weren’t many holes in the trucking industry. It was virtually bulletproof.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 came around and proved that the trucking industry was not untouchable. Things slowed down everywhere and small companies began to close as a driver shortage simultaneously continued to hurt companies.

And even though the pandemic is not as prevalent in 2022, it’s still having a huge impact on the trucking industry.

Here’s why trucking routes are taking much longer in China right now

In China, certain regions require drivers to receive a negative COVID-19 test before entering. This, in some cases, can take multiple days — usually at least 24 hours. For obvious reasons, this causes huge delays in the trucking industry.

This testing is specific to Drayage trucking which, according to CNBC, is “the critical piece of logistics where drivers transport raw materials, finished, or semi-finished goods.” The delays that these drivers are experiencing are having a ripple effect in China.

Here’s what Akhil Nair, SVP of SEKO Logistics in Pacific Asia, said about the current delays, according to CNBC.

“What happens is, if a particular district or area goes into a lockdown, the driver has to get a nucleic acid test or a PCR test. And that usually takes between 24 and 72 hours. So normally a truck route that will take a day or two can take as long as up to a week in some cases if you have the misfortune of getting stopped multiple times. That leads to complexity and basically a large amount of uncertainty within the trucking aspects.”

This test does not discriminate, either. Whether you’re showing symptoms or not, you have to take it. Whether you’re positive or negative, you have to wait for the PCR results to return.

Truckers in North America will hope that the same fate does not approach them anytime in the future.

Truck Driver/CDL

How One Company Is Trying to Change Trucking for Women

Historically speaking, women have been underrepresented in trucking. While the lack of representation for women is slowly fading in most industries, the trucking industry continues to struggle to bring women aboard.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 7.9% of truck drivers are women — and most of those CDL-driving-women have some issues with the industry.

Because of this, companies are trying to find a way to put more women behind the wheel of a truck. One organization, in particular, that is trying to accomplish this is ATA (American Trucking Associations).

The ATA is launching a program to encourage women to join the trucking industry

The program is called Women in Motion and, according to TruckingInfo.com, is “working with coalition partners, policymakers, and business leaders, Women in Motion will work to provide a more secure work environment for women in the industry, including advocating for issues like safer truck parking, as well as greater diversity in trucking. The program will also provide support and development opportunities for women in the industry, as well as promoting trucking as a career path to women across the country.”

In reality, it’s unclear what exactly they’ll be doing. Heck, they probably don’t even know exactly what they’ll be doing. That said, every journey starts with a single step and this is a good place to hit the ground running.

Here’s what ATA President Chris Spear said about the development of the program.

The trucking industry relies on women – whether in the boardroom, as a technician, or behind the wheel – and we believe that by highlighting the many contributions the women already in trucking make, we can demonstrate what a rewarding and lucrative career path it can be for millions of others

Chris Spear

Hopefully, this sends the industry in the right direction.

Whiteline Express/CDL Dot drug test

DOT Drug Testing Guide for CDL Drivers

There are a handful of intimidating aspects of becoming a CDL driver. For starters, you’re going to be driving an 18-wheeler or some sort of large automobile, which is often tricky. Some drivers might be driving stick-shift. Sometimes it’s the non-driving processes that complicate things for new drivers.

Still, there’s one thing that trips up more drivers than anything else — the drug test.

It seems pretty simple — you’re either going to test positive or you’re going to test negative. Unfortunately, there are more than a large handful of drivers who are either going to test positive or find themselves in a grey area. To be specific, that large handful includes 70,000 drivers who have been removed from their position since 2020 because of a marijuana-related failed drug test.

If you’re part of that group, don’t worry. We’re going to give you all of the information you need about your DOT drug test.

What drugs are included in a DOT drug test?

  • Marijuana metabolites/THC
  • Cocaine metabolites
  • Amphetamines (including methamphetamine, MDMA)
  • Opioids* (including codeine, heroin (6-AM), morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone)
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)

According to Concentra, the list above contains all of the drugs that a DOT drug test looks for. Most of these make sense — obviously, you wouldn’t want somebody who uses cocaine, meth, or heroin behind the wheel of a five-ton vehicle. The outlier on this list is marijuana, which we will cover in the next section.

Do the Department of Transportation and trucking companies treat marijuana like any other drug?

The short answer here is yes. So is the long answer.

The DOT tests for THC via urine test. This is good news for those who think they’re on the fence, as urine will usually sweep the THC out of your system in a month or less. If you’re a light or moderate user, it should be gone within a week, giving you almost no excuse to fail your DOT drug test. This contrasts with a hair test, which can leave traces in your system for up to six months.

The bad news, once again, is that marijuana in your system will be treated the same way as cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin, or any other hard drug.

If you want advice from somebody who watches drivers fail drug tests every day, here it is — stop using marijuana as soon as possible before your drug test. If you try to continue and dilute your urine before the test, it will come up inconclusive, which equates to a positive result. If you try to use fake urine, the temperature will be off and you will receive a positive result. Either stop doing it or find another career. This stuff happens every day. Be smart.

There is some controversy surrounding the Department of Transportation’s treatment of marijuana as a drug, especially for drivers who reside in states where it is legal recreationally. Unfortunately, the DOT does not care. You will still get tested for marijuana and if you test positive, you will not be allowed to drive a truck. There are no excuses. Even medical users will be rejected.

It’s important to note that the DOT is testing for THC and not CBD. Still, most CBD products contain trace amounts of THC (up to 0.3%) and could give you a positive test, so be extremely careful if you are a CBD user.

The only advice here is to stop consuming marijuana as soon as you can.

What kind of test will you receive?

A DOT-regulated drug test will likely use a urine sample. Still, some companies may choose other options like a hair test. That said, it’s extremely unlikely that they would do this if you do not have any history involving failed drug tests.

Where do DOT drug tests take place?

There are plenty of facilities that will give you a DOT drug test but it will usually be decided by your employer. Our company, Whiteline Express, goes through Concentra.

What happens if you fail a DOT drug test?

Okay, let’s say, hypothetically speaking, that you’ve already failed your DOT drug test.

I’ll be honest, it’s not looking good for you. That said, you’re not completely screwed — there are options for those who have received a negative test.

The positive here (other than your drug test) is that the trucking industry has a huge shortage of drivers. You will still be able to find work, it might just be a less attractive company with less attractive pay.

You’ll also have to go through a return-to-duty SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) program before you can drive again. There’s no specific time for how long this will take, as it depends case-to-case, but it will require you to be tested six times in your first year back at work. Depending on your case, you could continue to be tested for a total of five years.

You may also be required to test for a few reasons.

  • Reasonable suspicion/cause
  • Random testing
  • Return-to-duty testing
  • Follow-up testing
  • Post-accident testing

Other questions?

If you have any other questions about DOT drug tests, feel free to reach out to Whiteline Express on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

DOT Physical Exam/CDL

Everything You Need to Know for Your Dot Physical Exam

As simple as driving a truck might seem, the job itself can be extremely physically demanding. Because of this, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires you to pass a physical before you can use your CDL to drive a truck. I mean, it makes sense — you wouldn’t want an at-risk driver behind the wheel of a five-ton (minimum) vehicle, or at least we wouldn’t at Whiteline Express.

Still, the concept of a physical can be worrisome, even for the healthiest drivers. After all, CDL drivers need to have an up-to-date physical all the time. Because of this, you’ve probably found yourself wandering to the internet to answer the age-old question — what exactly does a DOT Physical Exam look for? Here’s everything you need to know about the test.

How often do you need to get an updated DOT physical?

Drivers will need to get their physical renewed AT LEAST every two years. The caveat here is that only completely healthy drivers will receive a two-year physical. Certain conditions could, and often do, result in more frequent physical testing.

When should you be worried?

If you’re reading this article, there’s probably a certain part of you, however small it may be, that is worried about failing your DOT physical. Don’t worry, we’ll give you every reason why you wouldn’t pass a physical right here. Here are the most common things that prevent a passing test, according to WebMD.

  • Cardiovascular Disease without medication
  • Epilepsy or seizure disorders
  • Meniere’s Disease, an inner ear disorder that causes dizziness
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • Vision loss that can’t be corrected
  • Hearing loss that can’t be corrected
  • Use of marijuana, even if prescribed
  • Use of illegal substances
  • Use of oxygen therapy
  • Some respiratory conditions
  • Protein in the urine, which may indicate kidney disease

This isn’t everything that will be checked — here are a few other things that will be checked but won’t necessarily disqualify you from driving.

  • Past surgeries
  • Over-the-counter or prescription medicines you’re taking
  • Prior health issues
  • Tobacco, alcohol, or illegal substance use
  • Past drug test results
  • Past drug dependencies

Here are some miscellaneous things that will be checked.

  • Height
  • Weight
  • Blood pressure
  • Vision
  • Hearing
  • General appearance
  • Skin
  • Eyes
  • Ears
  • Mouth and throat
  • Heart
  • Lungs and chest
  • Abdomen
  • Back and spine
  • Genital and urinary system, including checking for hernias
  • Extremities and joints
  • Nervous system, including your reflexes
  • Gait, which is how you walk
  • Circulatory system, which is your arteries, veins, and lymphatic system

For specific cases, make sure you bring each of the following if it applies to you.

  • Glasses/contacts for those with vision problems
  • Hearing aid for those with hearing problems
  • Hemoglobin A1C results and blood sugar logs for those with diabetes
  • Letter from cardiologist stating issues and limitations and a note stating they are safe to drive for those with heart-related issues

Want specifics?

If you’re still worried that you may not be able to pass your physical, check the hyperlinks in the text above or reach out to Whiteline Express on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Here’s what happens if you fail.

This may all seem scary. Don’t worry, even if you fail, you’re not automatically disqualified — if your condition improves or you receive treatment, you can take the exam again. The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) also makes exceptions for certain impairments.