As the owner of a commercial trucking company or a self-owned and operated trucker, it’s of the utmost importance for you to be a responsible with the regulations that come with the career you’ve chosen. This means that your company should be 100% in line with DOT compliance. Even if it’s just you and no employees, you still must adhere to the Department of Transportation and its requirements.

Why Drug Testing Is A Necessity

DOT compliance requirements include a drug- and alcohol-free work policy for commercial truck drivers—meaning pre-employment drug screens, random drug screens, screens under reasonable suspicion of drug abuse, and post-accident drug screens.

Why so many drug screens? Because responsible driving for the commercial trucking industry is extremely important. Human lives are at stake, as well as the reputation of the truck company. A commercial truck is a giant machine that can be deadly if a driver loses control. By administering drug tests for those drivers, a company owner is taking a precaution to keep that driver alcohol- and drug-free, and therefore a better driver.

Keeping Drivers Accountable

Truck stops can be a dangerous playground for drivers. One study reported that 85% of truck drivers surveyed said that methamphetamines were easily available at truck stops. Methamphetamines are a popular drug of choice for truck drivers, since it helps drivers stay awake longer and log more miles.

To be sure, methamphetamines are not the only drugs that are readily available to truckers. The combination of this easy availability along with the fact that truck drivers are not under a watchful eye can make for some sad results. This is why random drug testing administered by DOT policies is very important. Drivers are far less likely to partake in drug use if they think there’s a chance they’ll be caught.

2017 Drug- And Alcohol-Related Accidents By Month

If you’re thinking that no commercial truck driver would ever get behind the wheel on drugs or intoxicated, you are totally wrong. Every year, thousands of commercial truck drivers are involved in fatal accidents due to this very fact.

January 2017: A semi driver under the influence of methamphetamine causes a six-vehicle accident and puts a woman into a coma.
February 2017: A drunk commercial truck driver causes hits two fire hydrants, three parked cars, a fence, and an electrical transformer—resulting in a fire and leaving 50 homes without power.
March 2017: A commercial truck driver drives non-stop for 3,000 miles and 44 hours on crystal meth, LSD, and cocaine.
April 2017: A commercial truck driver with a history of drunk driving while on duty crosses the centerline of a highway, killing a teenage boy.
May 2017: A drunk semi driver with a history of driving violations repeatedly crashes into a parked car, pushing it across a parking lot.
June 2017: The driver of an 18-wheeler who was on methamphetamines swerves across a highway into the path of a school bus, killing both himself and an assistant track coach.
July 2017: A commercial truck driver under the influence kills an 80-year-old man and seriously injures the man’s passenger when he crashes into them.

This is just a small handful of the accidents caused by commercial truckers who were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, hundreds of these types of accidents happen each year. This is why policies that administer DOT compliance alcohol- and drug-free testing are so important. The more stringent the rules of DOT compliance, the less likely these accidents are to happen.

Consortium Pool provides everything commercial truck companies and self-owned and operated drivers need to be in line with DOT compliance. Our programs will make sure you’re educated and ready to get on the road. And remember—if you’re a commercial trucking company owner, this is a requirement. Contact us for a free consultation or with any questions you may have!