Pubdate: Sun, 26 Dec 2004
Source: Sunday Star-Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2004 Sunday Star-Times
Contact:  http://www.sundaystartimes.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1064
Author: Tim Hume
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

TRUCKIES TAKING P TO STAY ON THE ROAD

Fears of drug use among truck drivers are spurring police and freight
companies to consider random testing of commercial drivers for narcotics.

The proposal comes after sniffer dogs found traces of drugs in 30 of
90 trucks stopped and searched by police and Customs in the Auckland
port area last month.

Police had long suspected drug use was a problem in the trucking
industry, but were surprised at the results, said Senior Sergeant
Irwin Van Pelt, head of the northern commercial vehicle investigation
unit.

The operation resulted in four drivers arrested for drug possession,
including one for amphetamines.

"We've been hearing about drug use by truck drivers for years - it's
part of the culture of the industry. But we've never before had the
occasion to see how bad it possibly was," Van Pelt said.

"To find that in one of every three vehicles checked there were drugs
or had been drugs is a real eye-opener."

Truckies said the drug was common in the industry and readily
available over long-haul routes, enabling tired drivers to stay awake,
drive further and earn more.

Some believed the drug improved their driving.

"I'd much rather trust a driver on a small amount of it than a tired
driver," said one 16-year industry veteran and former pure
methamphetamine ("P") user, who did not want to be named.

"You keep a tighter line and it heightens your awareness really well.
You see a pebble on the road and you drive around it."

Three drivers spoken to by the Sunday Star-Times said they knew many
drivers who used P on the job. The men did not want to be named for
fear of retribution.

One kicked his P habit a year ago, having developed an 18-month
addiction, after using the drug to stay awake on the road. He knew 30
drivers who used the drug to increase their mileage - and boost their
earnings.

"People go hard out, increase their (mileage), start making a bit of
money - then it starts slowing them down," he said.

But the situation was nowhere near as serious as in Australia, where
he had worked previously. "There were companies there handing it out
with your pay slip."

Another driver said he had been offered the drug at truckstops when he
was tired, but had not taken it since observing its effect on other
drivers.

Police commercial vehicle investigations manager Inspector Ian James
said the Misuse of Drugs Act prevented police from randomly conducting
drug tests. Police needed grounds to suspect a person had drugs before
they could search them. Random testing during the Auckland port
operation was only possible because of the involvement of Customs, who
were drug-testing under the auspices of border protection.

Police legal staff were now investigating how they might legally
inspect drivers for drugs, James said.

Police were closely observing the trial of random roadside
drug-testing, which began in Victoria last week. The first driver to
be picked up by Victorian police for testing positive for drugs was
later cleared.

James said a landmark Employment Court ruling in April, allowing Air
New Zealand to randomly drug-test its staff in safety-sensitive areas,
had opened the door for the transport industry.

Many freight companies like Toll New Zealand demanded a pre-employment
drug test.

Andrew Drinnan, of trucking firm Andrew Drinnan Investments, said his
company had introduced random drug-testing of its drivers following
four major crashes nine years ago.

A private investigator found seven of the company's drivers were
taking drugs on the job.

Chris Carr, managing director of freight company Carr and Haslam, said
his company was looking to introduce random drug-testing for its drivers.

Provincial Freightlines driver trainer Mark Richards said most of the
firm's clients either required drug tests before drivers entered
sites, or were looking to implement such a policy.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin