OTA Dispatch Issue 1, 2019

SAFETY 36 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Drug & Alcohol Testing: Why It Is Important By Adam Williamson, OTA’s Director of Training & Development D rug and alcohol testing are a critical part of safety and compliance in the trucking industry. Large commercial motor vehicles, many of which can weigh over 80,000 pounds, require skilled and attentive drivers to operate safely. There is simply no room for such a safety sensitive function to be performed by anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Responsible carriers and drivers understand this and work diligently to keep drug and alcohol use from negatively impacting travel on our public highways. There are six types of drug and alcohol testing that carriers and their CDL drivers are subject to under FMCSA regulations: pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty, and follow up. The intent of these tests is to prevent the hire of drivers actively using prohibited substances, monitor drivers after hire, and to ensure that rehabilitation is successful in the event of a positive test or refusal. Education is a critical part of the testing process for both carriers and drivers. Carriers are responsible to have a drug and alcohol testing policy that is consistent with FMCSA regulations and to inform each driver of the policy. Drivers are responsible to understand and comply with both FMCSA regulations and their company policy. Supervisors must complete two hours of reasonable suspicion training that covers the signs, symptoms, and effects of drug and alcohol use. Currently, there are five controlled substances that are screened for during a DOT regulated drug test: Cocaine, PCP, Opiates, Amphetamines, and Marijuana. Several states have legalized marijuana for either recreational or medicinal use, but it is still a federally controlled substance and a positive test detecting the presence of THC will disqualify a driver. Alcohol, while also generally legal, cannot be either used or found in the possession of a CDL driver while operating a commercial motor vehicle (a blood alcohol level of .04 will result in a positive test for CDL drivers). Many prescription medications can have similar side effects to illegal substances and alcohol, so it is critical for drivers to communicate clearly with their prescribing physician to ensure that their medication is safe and compliant for driving. It is our duty to keep our public highways as safe as possible for both our drivers and the general public. Drug and alcohol testing have had a tremendously positive impact in this regard. We have seen the number of drug and alcohol related crashes, injuries, and fatalities decline significantly since the implementation of our current policies. There is still room for improvement, but we are headed in the right direction. Let’s continue to build on this progress and collectively work toward eliminating these types of accidents altogether.  Need help with your safety plan? Contact us [email protected].