December 17, 2024
In the commercial trucking industry, ensuring that all drivers are sober, alert, and fit for duty is not just an expectation—it is a critical aspect of public safety. Each time a driver takes the wheel of an 80,000-pound rig, he or she shoulders a weighty responsibility. Both the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) have long recognized that safety begins with a drug-free workforce. This understanding underpins the regulatory framework requiring drug and alcohol testing for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders at key points in their careers: before employment, randomly during their tenure, and after certain crashes or suspected violations.