Without a doubt, drunk driving is a huge problem in this nation. So, how do the laws and regulations on alcohol affect truck drivers in this country? Truth be told, truck drivers are held to a higher standard when it comes to alcohol. And that’s because the stakes are higher. Truck drivers often haul hazardous materials. They also drive large vehicles. Truck drive also drive for many hours in a stretch. This leads to a lack of concentration and fatigue. These are all the reasons why truck drivers are held to a higher standard. Testing and driving regulations are much more stringent for truck drivers when it comes to alcohol. And they can be severely punished for just one mistake.
The Driving Laws for Truck Drivers
All of the states in this country have a blood alcohol limit of .08 typical motorists. However, truck drivers are considered DWI or DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04%. The legal limit for alcohol consumption is cut in half for truck drivers. Just drinking one beer can have consequences for truck drivers. They can wind up losing their career and some hefty legal bills to pay.
And there are other regulations in place for truck drivers, too. The Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration states that truck drivers are forbidden to have alcohol in the cab. Truck drivers are also forbidden consuming alcohol 4 hours before driving their commercial vehicle. And if truck driver is suspected of drinking alcohol, they must be placed off duty for a minimum of 24 hours.
And there’s more, too. Sobriety must exist when truck drivers are waiting at a terminal, inspecting a commercial vehicle, unloading or loading a vehicle, or repairing a vehicle. Even the truck companies who have truck drivers have strict regulations in place for their truck drivers. Truck drivers must abide by the state laws and the regulations set out by their employers.
The Fallout for Truck Drivers with Drunk Driving Charges
If a truck driver is convicted of DUI or DWI charge, the consequences are tough and long-lasting. They can lose their career, livelihood and income. There will also be criminal procedure to face. If they are convicted, they must notify their employer immediately. The trucker’s license is suspended, and their employer cannot use them as a driver. Unfortunately, this usually leads to unemployment for a period of time, but some truckers are able to secure other types of employment. However, even once the trucker served their time, it is very difficult to secure another position as a truck driver after being convicted of a DWI or DUI.
Truck drivers need to be aware of all the laws and regulations regarding drunk driving while they are on a driving assignment. They need to be extremely cautious about drinking. Even having a few beers while off duty may not be a good idea. And it’s always wise to not keep any liquor, wine or beer in the cab.
Crashes involving large trucks can be very serious. A collision could result in serious injury or even a fatality. In 2019, over 4000 people died in large truck collisions. Over 60% were occupants of other vehicles. Over 15% or truck occupants. Over 15% were motorcyclist’s, bicyclists or pedestrians. Those statistics were 30% higher than in 2009.
Unfortunately, the use of alcohol and drug is high among truck drivers. This is likely due to the stress of the job, the long hours and the unavailability of enough restaurants. While things like cocaine and amphetamines can keep truck drivers awake, they also have bad side effects like impaired driving. Studies have revealed that in a one-year period, over 60% of fatally injured truckers had drugs in their system. This is definitely not good.
The dangers of drunk truck driving include slow reaction times, blurred vision, impaired judgement, poor decision making and poor motor control. It can cause swerving, failure to recognize road signage and other traffic controls, impair the distance required to stop, impair ability to recognize pedestrians and to recognize traffic controls. All of these factors significantly increase the risk of a catastrophic accident. And while the average call weighs about 4,000 pounds, the average truck weighs between 20,000 to 80,000 pounds. In a nutshell, commercial vehicles are significantly larger than passenger cars. And that makes them much more dangerous.
Trucks require special mirrors to reveal blind spots and also require much more time to come to a full stop than a passenger car. And these are just a few of the reason why alcohol laws are different for truck drivers than for regular motorists. It’s all about safety for the truck drivers, the truck’s occupants’ other drivers and pedestrians. There must be laws in place to keep everyone as safe as possible.
