The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has several rules that govern truck driver safety, including rules that prohibit the use of certain kinds of medications and illegal drugs while a truck driver is operating a motor vehicle. Commercial drivers who use Schedule I drugs are not allowed behind the wheel of a commercial tractor-trailer or bus under any circumstances, says the FMCSA.
Recently, however, the FMCSA clarified one of these rules to enforce the prohibition against commercial drivers using Schedule I drugs under any circumstances. The FMCSA has long banned drivers from operating commercial motor vehicles if their drug tests showed they used Schedule I drugs, and the agency requires drivers suspended for Schedule I drug use to pass a drug test before they get behind the wheel again. However, confusion over what the rule meant by an employer’s need to have “actual knowledge” of Schedule I drug use led the FMCSA to clarify its long-held prohibition.
Schedule I drugs are uniformly illegal under federal law. The category includes drugs that are believed to have a high risk for addiction and other medical problems, and little or no use in treating or curing any diseases. The category includes drugs like methamphetamines, heroin, and cocaine.
Drug use is just one of the ways in which a truck driver can improperly increase the risk of an accident. Fatigue, driving beyond the hourly limits, not getting proper maintenance, and driving too fast for conditions or on unfamiliar roads can also cause serious accidents. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck crash, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Page Law. For a confidential and free telephone consultation, call us at (314) 322-8515 today.
To learn more about what to do after a truck crash in Missouri, watch this video:
