A former driver for a Wisconsin-based carrier has filed suit against the company in state court, claiming that he was illegally fired for allegedly refusing to take a drug test.

Paul O. Taylor of Eagan, MN, the attorney representing the driver, said that the man in fact had agreed to the drug test, but suffers from Paruresis – also known as shy bladder syndrome – and was unable to produce the amount of urine required for the test.

Marshfield Clinic – the place that did the testing and is also named in the lawsuit – notified the carrier, Push Inc. of Rice Lake, WI, which, in turn, fired the driver several days later.

Taylor said Push did not obtain confirmation of the test from the medical review officer, which is required by federally controlled substance testing regulations.

In addition, the lawsuit charges that Push made it difficult for the driver to find another job, telling at least one carrier with whom he had applied that the driver refused to take a drug test.

Taylor said this kind of thing is not unusual in an industry where trucking companies are looking for ways to cut corners, including using inexpensive clinics for drug tests.

“You get what you pay for,” he said. “Drivers are at the mercy of these clinics.”

Taylor said he is hopeful that cases like this will send a message out to trucking companies regarding drug testing.

“We’ve gone mad with the whole drug testing thing,” he said. “There’s got to be some protection (for drivers) against trucking companies from abusing the whole drug-testing process.”

World’s Largest Truck Convoy will ride for Special Olympians

Truckers and law-enforcement officers throughout the United States and Canada will soon join forces for the World’s Largest Convoy. Highways in 35 states, as well as Alberta and Ontario, will be lined up with an expected 3,000 trucks as they convoy to celebrate their support of Special Olympics.

Most of the states plan to convoy on Sept. 24. Ontario will go Sept. 10, South Dakota on Sept. 17 – except for Sioux Falls on Sept. 24. Delaware has set the date for Oct. 8 and the big one, Florida, is good to go on Oct. 15.

Trucking companies and truckers who want to participate may find details and a registration packet on the Internet by visiting worldslargesttruckconvoy.com. You may also call (202) 628-3630 or 1-800-700-8585 for details. The minimum donation to participate is $100 per truck.

OOIDA is a sponsor of the annual event. The association’s tour truck, the “Spirit of the American Trucker,” will convoy in Texas, departing Carl’s Corner on Sept. 24. OOIDA’s Ron Mermis and the NASCAR simulator will be there, too.