I got called in for a Breathalyser test yesterday

[Tobin S.]

A lot of people probably don't know this: Trucking companies are required to randomly test 50% of their drivers every year for illegal drugs and 10% of them for alcohol. I got called in for an alcohol test yesterday. I know you have to respond within 32 hours for drug tests and I think it's 8 for alcohol tests.

It was the first time I'd ever taken a Breathalyser test and I found myself wishing I hadn't downed that case of Coors the night before.

Just kidding. The screen read .000

Now I think I'll go have a drink. :silly:

[catzies]

1. I worked for a co. that enrolled in DOT random screenings for truck drivers

It was of course a "drug-free" company, even though the owner chain-smoked and ate Valium like candy. :crazy:

[MajorChode]

2. I heard that you can also be randomly pulled over to blow the BAT's pipe

Any truth to that?

[Tobin S.]

5. What's the BAT?

[MajorChode]

18. Blood Alcohol Test

[Tobin S.]

19. I've not heard of that happening

But it is true that law enforcement officers can pull us over for any reason, boredom from sitting in the middle of the highway all day and not getting any action being one of them. So I guess they could test us after pulling us over for any reason. But like I said, I haven't heard of that happening. Not saying it hasn't though.

[MajorChode]

21. I had heard that from a guy with a CDL

I didn't know how true it was. I knew they could do it post accident.

[Tobin S.]

22. Yep

If you're in a commercial vehicle involved in an accident and if one of the vehicles is towed away or if someone in the accident is carried away in an ambulance, you will get tested for drugs and alcohol whether the accident was your fault or not.

All drivers have to submit to pre-employment drug testing.

All drivers must submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

The DUI threashhold for CDL holders is .04 blood alcohol content.

If you get a DUI, you will likely not be able to get a job in trucking for at least 5 years.

If you test positive for drugs it will be likely that your driving career is over.

They ain't fuckin around.

[petronius]

28. Is that 0.04 only when you're actually working, or is that a DUI even when

you're off-duty?

[Tobin S.]

29. It's my understanding that it's at any time

But I'm not completely sure about that. But just like any other moving violation that you get counts against your CDL, no matter what you are driving, I think the law holds true for DUIs as well at the .04 threshold. I'll see if I can find the law and quote it here.

[Tobin S.]

30. Here is a link from the USDOT regarding alcohol and drug use

and a portion quoted there that sort of answers your question.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/drug/engtesting.htm

WHAT ALCOHOL USE IS PROHIBITED?

Alcohol is a legal substance; therefore, the rules define specific prohibited alcohol-related conduct. Performance of safety-sensitive functions is prohibited:

While using alcohol.
While having a breath alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or greater as indicated by an alcohol breath test.
Within four hours after using alcohol.
In addition, refusing to submit to an alcohol test or using alcohol within eight hours after an accident or until tested (for drivers required to be tested) are prohibited.

It would appear that the .04 limit is only applicable when you are on duty according to that paragraph.

[petronius]

32. That seems fair - stricter on the job but no intrusion into your private life...

[Roon]

25. When I was driving truck, I ran over a piece of plywood in the road

I was like, OH SHIT!! I watched the wood go flying into this old lady's car and pierce her radiator. So she pulled over and I pulled over. CHiPs came did their thing, and the old lady left. Just as I was about to leave, the cop said he could smell pot on me. (I gave up smoking pot before truck driving school) and he sniffed my hair. Then his buddy pulled up and he also sniffed my hair.

Then they asked if they could search the truck. I got nervous and the cops picked up on that. I was nervous because I had a whole bunch of GAY porn stashed in the closet. They searched, found nothing and let me go. Bored cops in the middle of the desert.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Tobin!

Well, I knew you would pass, silly!

Now would be an excellent time for a drink...

I'm sure that test must be at least a little scary, right?


:toast:

[Tobin S.]

6. It's only scary if you like to party out here.

Some drivers do.

[Ikonoklast]

4. The screen read .000 because Coors has less alcohol in it than water.

I'm not even technically sure it can legally be called 'beer'.

[Tobin S.]

7. Well I don't abuse good beer.

:D

Icehouse! Now there's a gettin drunk beer. :thumbsup:

[JonLP24]

27. Icehouse is good

Cheap too.

[kayakjohnny]

9. Ha! I waiting for that.

Nice.

:toast: (note: smiley represents actual beer)

[cwydro]

20. Lol.

Now that did make me giggle.

I remember back in the day when if we could get Coors on the east coast we were so thrilled.

Then we did get it...and we weren't.

[Parche]

8. i will drink to that

:hi::woohoo:

[HipChick]

10. if you are going to drink a coors..

I'll have to start telling my American Beer jokes..

[Tobin S.]

12. See Ikonoklast and Johnny above

I actually do like Coors, but I haven't had any in a long time. I've been getting into wheat beers lately.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Don't get too drunk now. Random means that you may be the

next random one again. You don't have a one year pass now. But I am sure you have no worries.

[Tobin S.]

13. I don't drink out here on the road

A lot of things could go wrong with that and the rules regarding alcohol and truckers are very strict. Any time you see me posting about drinking I'm either joking around or at the house.

[Curmudgeoness]

15. You are a wise man,

for a trucker.

[Tobin S.]

17. Thanks...I think

[Curmudgeoness]

31. You're welcome. Really...

I had just been at GD too long yesterday and had a little edge. I love truckers.

[av8rdave]

14. We get randomly tested as well

The part I don't like in my business is that if a positive comes up for any reason, there is no due process. You're done.

[Tobin S.]

16. Yep, your career is over

No chance to defend yourself.

[av8rdave]

26. Biggest scare I ever had with that....

Our company claims that the gas chromatography process used to test can detect illegal drug use up to 30 days after the fact. I don't know how true that is, but I never gave it a lot of thought, since the only drug I use occasionally is alcohol.

Anyway, I got tagged for a random test. If it's for drugs, they always get us when we block in at the end of a trip. The evening before this particular trip began, I was at a Neil Young concert. Thankfully, we had lawn seating. Still, the air was pretty full of smoke with a distinctive odor. Not breathing is an option that's only good for a minute or so.

I mentioned it to the drug testing lady as we were walking to the sample collection area. She assured me that absent direct, first hand inhalation from the source of the smoke, there was no way to have enough in the system to trigger a positive.

Sure enough, the test results were negative. But I've always wondered about that, given the company's claim of extreme sensitivity.

On another note, the only humorous aspect of this blatant violation of the Constitution is the letter you get after the results come in: "We are pleased to inform you that your tested sample showed no evidence of illegal substances." I wonder if I'm supposed to feel relieved or elated. I mean, who knows if you're snorting coke in your sleep without knowing it!

[MajorChode]

23. Did you know ATC can fail a drug test and keep their job?

[av8rdave]

24. I was aware of that. We should have the same standards.

Not because drug use is an issue (typically, positive tests other than pre-employment ones are extremely rare), but because no testing system is 100% perfect. In the past, we have seen everything from chain of custody issues to unrealistic criteria for determining unadulterated samples. Additionally, it is still possible (though unlikely) to consume something legitimate and cause a positive result.