LITTLE ROCK, AR --- Arkansas now has a fast, secure and convenient way for transportation employers to post and search substance abuse test results for its drivers.

The new online system is available through www.Arkansas.gov and provides access to a central repository of alcohol and drug test results for commercial drivers that can be accessed in real-time by employers.

Since the launch of this service in January 2008, 263 positive test results have been reported to the database and more than 5,100 commercial driver records have been searched. Of these searches, 45 generated a positive match and kept a potentially unsafe commercial vehicle driver off the state's roads.

 "We must do our best to keep drug abusers out of our trucks and off our highways, and this Arkansas law is helping to make sure they don't get a job as a truck driver," said Lane Kidd, president of the Arkansas Trucking Association. He added that the Arkansas trucking organization would also support a federal law that would create a national database like Arkansas has.

An Arkansas law enacted in 2007 requires employers to search the online database prior to hiring a commercial driver. If the commercial driver is found to have a positive or refused drug or alcohol test result on their record, the employer cannot hire the driver. According to the law, employers and medical review officers are required to report any positive or refused alcohol or drug test results to the state-managed database within three business days.

"Drivers are the most important people at our company and this service helps to ensure they are safe vehicle operators," said David Whiteside, senior director of compliance at J.B. Hunt Transportation Services Inc. "This online service is incredibly valuable to our company and we'd like to see it offered by every state."

The online service allows employers to search the database and report results quickly and easily. Employers and medical review officers must first register for an online account at www.Arkansas.gov. Searching and reporting within the database requires only the commercial driver's CDL number and date of birth. The system reports violations to the driver's alcohol and drug record in the same way that commercial driving records are updated. All information is accessed through Arkansas.gov's secure online system.

The online Commercial Driver Alcohol and Drug Testing Result Database was created at no cost to taxpayers, in partnership with the Information Network of Arkansas, the state's eGovernment portal provider.