Sweep by federal alcohol and drug task force targets drivers and companies

Following a two-week investigation earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that 287 commercial truck and bus drivers were removed from the roads and 128 companies faced enforcement actions for violating federal drug and alcohol testing requirements, reporting requirements and removal mandates.

The action came after the agency’s drug and alcohol strike force, staffed with nearly 200 federal investigators, examined the safety records of commercial drivers employed in a variety of capacities including school bus drivers, hazardous waste truck drivers, and long-haul truckers. The aim of the enforcement action was to identify drivers who move from carrier to carrier to avoid federal drug and alcohol testing requirements as well as carriers that evade reporting requirements.

The effort is an important one because drug and alcohol use by commercial truck and bus drivers can have deadly consequences. If you or someone you love has been injured or a loved one has been killed in a trucking accident, contact the Missouri personal injury lawyers at The S.E. Farris Law Firm. Call 314-A-LAWYER (314-252-9937) today for a free consultation.

Truck Driver Drug and Alcohol Laws and Regulations

The FMCSA’s rules pertaining to drugs and alcohol are extensive. The federal agency prohibits driving while using alcohol, while having a breath alcohol concentration of 0.4 percent or within four hours after using alcohol.

The FMCSA bans the unauthorized use of controlled substances and illegal drugs. It also prohibits some legal, prescription substances such as barbiturates, amphetamines and morphine for safety-sensitive drivers in interstate commerce.

The agency also requires breath testing for alcohol and urine testing for drugs in several circumstances:

  • After an accident
  • If there is a reasonable suspicion of alcohol or substance misuse
  • Random testing
  • Follow up testing after an alcohol or drug conduct violation

Contact a St. Louis Trucking Accident Attorney

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a truck accident, contact the St. Louis personal injury lawyers at The S.E. Farris Law Firm as soon as possible. The time to pursue a claim against a negligent trucking company or driver is limited. Evidence such as drug or alcohol use that may establish liability could be lost or destroyed as a result of a delay. Therefore, it is important to contact an experienced Missouri trucking accident attorney as soon as possible so that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident can be conducted and that your rights are protected.

Call 314-A-LAWYER (314-252-9937) today for a free consultation.