Impaired truck drivers are a leading cause of serious truck accidents, especially those involving tractor-trailers. To tackle this issue, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched a new program aimed at keeping disqualified CDL/CPL drivers off the road and reducing drug and alcohol violations.
According to a report by Yahoo News, “The FMCSA aims to remove disqualified CDL/CPL drivers from the roadways to boost safety and reduce DOT drug and alcohol violations.”
Federal Clearinghouse program targets impaired truck drivers
In 2021, the FMCSA launched the CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse program in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress. This initiative aims to identify and address impaired driving among commercial truck drivers.
According to the FMCSA, the Clearinghouse is a national database designed to help employers quickly identify CDL drivers who have committed drug or alcohol violations with a previous employer but failed to report them as required. Without this real-time information, employers risk hiring drivers with unresolved violations, putting everyone on the road at risk.
FMCSA takes the next step to remove impaired CDL drivers from the road
Since its creation in 2021, the FMCSA’s Clearinghouse database has flagged 175,000 CDL drivers with a “prohibited” status due to drug or alcohol violations. These drivers are barred from operating commercial vehicles until they complete the required return-to-duty (RTD) process.
Starting November 18, the FMCSA will enforce stricter measures by actively removing CDL drivers with a “prohibited” status from the road nationwide. Drivers can only regain their legal status to operate a commercial vehicle after providing proof of completing the RTD process, aiming to enhance road safety and accountability.
How common are drug or alcohol violations among commercial truck drivers?
Despite safety regulations, many commercial truck drivers continue to test positive for drugs or alcohol, with violations increasing annually between 2020 and 2023, according to the FMCSA Clearinghouse.
In 2023 alone, authorities issued 67,667 drug violations and 1,588 alcohol violations to CDL drivers. The breakdown of these violations includes:
- 54,123 positive drug tests
- 12,621 drug test refusals
- 1,027 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests with levels over 0.04%
- 302 alcohol test refusals
Based on FMCSA data, these violations primarily resulted from random drug or alcohol tests, pre-employment screenings, and post-accident testing. Drivers can also be tested when there’s “reasonable suspicion” of impairment, emphasizing the ongoing need for vigilance and accountability in the trucking industry.
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