Trucking Under the Influence
Trucking Under the Influence is an investigative series by Heavy Duty Trucking examining the impact of illegal drug use by drivers amid current trends of marijuana legalization, opioid addiction, a rise in cocaine use, and changes in driver drug-testing regulations and technology.
Does trucking have a drug problem?
Image: HDT graphic
In a new era where where deregulation of marijuana is a reality in many states, an opioid epidemic is hollowing out blue-collar America, and drivers are feeling more pressure than ever to stay productive, alert and safe, the trucking industry is having to take the drug issue head-on.
From the Pages of Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine:
Part 1: Truckers, Drugs and Safety
Amid national trends such as the rapid rise of marijuana legalization and a continuing opioid abuse crisis, trucking faces some disturbing trends of its own.
Part 2: 18-Wheelers and Weed
The stigma around recreational marijuana usage is increasingly fading away and it is even being touted for its medicinal uses. How will a safety-focused trucking industry deal with this new cultural norm?
Part 3: Digging Into Truck Driver Drug Use
A recent study found a higher rate of drug use by prospective drivers than was previously believed to be the case.
Part 4: Is There a Better Way to Drug Test?
DOT-required urine testing has known shortcomings, but in an industry faced with difficulty finding and keeping qualified drivers, some worry that stricter drug-testing protocols will only make the situation worse.
• Bonus Web Feature: 7 Things You Need to Know About the New Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
Part 5: The Road Back
Is a single failed drug test or alcohol screening enough reason to terminate an otherwise valued truck driver as a “lifestyle” drug user or unsalvageable alcoholic who must never drive a truck again?
• Bonus Web Feature: Testing Positive for Marijuana – One Driver’s Story
More Digital Coverage
Jan. 22, 2019: Hauling Cannabis and Cash: New Fleets Serve Exploding Industry
March 14, 2019: ATRI Study Looks at Legal Marijuana's Impact on Fleet Operations
April 15, 2019: The Hazards of Hauling Hemp
June 12, 2019: Trucking Alliance: Driver Drug Use a Top Trucking Safety Issue
Sept. 25, 2019: Why Can't We Treat Marijuana Use Like Alcohol?
Oct. 8, 2019: New ATA Policy Addresses Marijuana Challenges in Trucking
Oct. 16, 2019: CBD Use Cost This Truck Driver His Job
More Safety & Compliance
Kodiak Lines Up Fleets for Driverless Trucking
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More Trailer Data Through the Same Seven-Way [Video]
Can trucking’s standard seven-way connector handle more cameras and trailer data? Grote’s Adam Slade shows HDT how the company is using new technology with its 4See trailer system, not only to add a new backup camera but also to expand other capabilities — without adding another connection.
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PrePass Intelligence Mines Fleet Bypass, Toll and Safety Data
PrePass Intelligence helps fleets measure bypass savings, flag potential toll overcharges, and spot suspicious transactions by combining data from separate systems.
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Fatal Crash Exposes Toll Plaza Risks
An NTSB investigation found that last-minute lane changes and large speed differences at an Ohio toll plaza created a hazard the truck driver couldn't avoid in time.
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When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders
English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.
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A Camera Isn't a Safety Program. Here's What Brokers Are Screening for Now
Footage alone may not be enough to pass broker vetting processes. Here's what counts as a defensible safety program now.
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Marijuana and Trucking’s Drug-Testing Dilemma
Marijuana is getting stronger, laws are changing, and drug tests still can’t reliably establish impairment. What does that mean for truck drivers and the fleets that employ them?
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PrePass, Kodiak Connect Driverless Trucks to Roadside Enforcement
The system will allow enforcement agencies to verify Enhanced Inspection information and decide whether Kodiak’s autonomous trucks can bypass roadside screening sites.
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From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers
After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.
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FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition
Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.
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