Drug and Alcohol Regulations for Commercial Truck Drivers

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Do Commercial Truck Drivers Have Special Rules For Drug and Alcohol Use? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets for rules and regulations for commercial truck drivers and trucking companies to protect the public because we must share the road with these extremely large and dangerous vehicles. Accidents involving commercial trucks result in the death or injury of the occupants of the other vehicles in over 70 percent of truck accidents. Due to the weight and size of a commercial truck, the injuries in a truck accident are usually catastrophic. Therefore, the FMCSA sets forth drug and alcohol rules and regulations such as requiring a drug test that covers a minimum of five different substances: • Marijuana • Cocaine • Opiates — opium and codeine derivatives • Amphetamines and …show more content…

Employers are required to test a minimum of 50 percent of its drivers for controlled substances and 10 percent of its drivers for alcohol on an annual basis. • Drivers must agree to drug and/or alcohol testing if the employer has a responsible suspicion that the driver violated trucking regulation related to the use of drugs or alcohol. • Commercial truck drivers who are involved in a truck accident that results in the death of another person or results in a traffic citation being issued must submit to alcohol and drug testing. An alcohol drug test must be given to the truck driver within eight hours of the truck accident. A drug test must be given to the truck driver within 32 hours of the truck accident. • Submit to a return-to-work drug and alcohol test after a violation of trucking regulations. This also includes follow-up tests with a minimum of six tests within the following 12 months. • Face immediate suspension from driving a truck if a blood alcohol test results in a .04 BAC. If the BAC is between .02 and .039, the truck driver is suspended until the next regularly scheduled alcohol

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