DOT Enhances Rules Regarding Drug Testing for Semi Truck Drivers
When a trucking company hires someone to drive a commercial motor vehicle, i.e. a semi truck or tractor trailer, the trucking company should give that prospective employee a drug and alcohol test. Additionally, any time a semi truck driver causes or contributes to an accident that results in an injury to someone else or property damage, the semi truck driver is supposed to submit to a drug and alcohol test as soon as practicable according to the rules and regulations that govern semi truck drivers and trucking companies. Unfortunately, these important rules are not enforced very well, and many semi truck drivers are able to avoid taking the post-accident drug and alcohol tests without punishment. The government has discussed doing more to enforce these rules and otherwise make sure that drivers with a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse are not employed as semi truck drivers.
Recently, the Federal Department of Transportation (FDOT) has amended the rules dealing with drug tests of tractor trailer drivers. The new rules basically add certain drugs to the list of drugs screened during a pre-employment, post-accident or other drug test. With the rule changes, amphetamine-type drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), MDA and MDEA will now be screened as well as an indicator for heroin use. The rules also lower the threshold for a positive drug tests for cocaine and amphetamines.
There are rules that are designed to prevent drug and alcohol abusers from driving semi trucks on the roads. However, the rules are not ideal, and they are often ignored due to lackadaisical enforcement and weak penalties. Any rule changes that will serve to prevent drug and alcohol abusers from obtaining jobs as commercial motor vehicle drivers are welcome.
