The professional road transport sector is closer to having a State protocol for conducting alcohol and drug tests on professional drivers, following the agreement reached between the Spanish Confederation of Freight Transport (CETM) and the unions CCOO and UGT, with the participation of the passenger transport employers' association Confebús.
The agreed text was delivered in mid-January to the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) and will serve as the basis for the development of a national standard, with the aim of having it published in the Official State Bulletin (BOE) and result from general application in all provincial agreements, both in the transport of goods and passengers.
A common framework for the entire sector
He explained Carmelo Gonzalez, president of CETM, the intention of the DGT is to provide the sector with a homogeneous regulatory frameworkThis would avoid the current territorial disparity. However, the business leader warns that the regulation will still need to be analyzed by the various ministries involved, which will affect the timeline for its entry into force.
Currently, there are only two provincial agreements in force that expressly contemplate this type of control: the one Asturias and the province of ValenciaBoth were used as a reference for the design of the state protocol. The Asturian agreement allows up to three control processes per year, while the Valencian contemplates of the establishing in both cases the obligation to written notice at least 15 calendar days in advance to the legal representation of the workers.
Preventive approach and guarantees for drivers
The unions have stressed that the protocol It does not have a punitive characterbut should be understood as a occupational risk prevention measureAlong these lines, the agreements of Asturias and Valencia incorporate a treatment framework which prevents penalties for drivers who acknowledge a situation of dependency, provided they request the temporary suspension of the contract to undergo rehabilitation programs.
In the Valencian case, considered the preferred model by trade unions, it is also established that the selection of workers subjected to the tests must be based on objective criteria defined by the prevention service, taking into account the highest levels of individual and collective risk.
Controls, retirement and contributions: a parallel negotiation
The possibility of implementing alcohol and drug testing has been a historical demand of transport companies, which has progressed in parallel with other sectoral demands, such as the Application of reduction coefficients to bring forward the retirement of professional drivers.
Unions and employers' associations have already jointly submitted this request to the Social security, which has a period of six months —until the April 23— to issue a resolution. However, CETM points out that any decision in this area could have implications increases in social security contributions, with a direct impact on business costs, which is why organizations in the sector are demanding to actively participate in the process and review the accident rate quotation.
A key step for road and workplace safety
If its publication in the BOE is confirmed, the new protocol will entail a significant progress in road safety and in the prevention of occupational risks within professional road transport, providing the sector with a clear, balanced and common legal framework for companies and drivers throughout the country.
