Alcohol Testing

I'm not going to lie I go out every Friday night and Saturday and get hammered.

I don't do drugs, I'm healthy no record of any type no accidents and I'm responsible for the most part.

I know the rule is 24 hours after your last drink. But what about the test, especially pre employment. Are the alcohol tests ever urine or hair? And if so how much alcohol can be stored in the body in order to pass?

I wouldn't worry about pre-employment screens and ALCOHOL. As long as your aren't drinking on the way to orientation, or AT orientation - I wouldn't worry about long-term-cumulative effects of alcohol and pre-employment screens (though your LIVER may not be loving you).

But you'd better be ready to hang up your shot-glass for awhile. You aren't going to be drinking AT ALL during orientation, pretty much AT ALL during training & road training - and most likely NOT while you're OTR , except for HOME TIME, and maybe a 34 hour reset IF YOU'RE IN A HOTEL DURING YOUR RESET (like, as in - you can't drink in the truck).

Also keep in mind, the penalties for DUI , even in a CAR - when you hold a CDL , are MUCH MORE SEVERE for your CDL, than just a regular old DUI with a regular old drivers license.

So if you're not ready to FORGO your weekend hammerings, except when you are HOME every 4-?? weeks for a couple of days - maybe you need to RECONSIDER OTR trucking as a profession...

Just sayin.

Rick

Thanks rick. Could be a good thing to stop anyway.

Honestly, you really don't have time for it anyway. LOL

Thanks rick. Could be a good thing to stop anyway.

I'm a recovering alcoholic with many years of sobriety - so I'm kind of biased when it comes to alcohol/drugs and trucking. When I see people who are interested in trucking but wonder if it'll "interfere with their drinking" - it kind of throws up RED FLAGS.

Not saying that you have a problem with alcohol - but if you're consumption is such that you have a concern about testing - then it might be a question YOU need to ASK YOURSELF. Again - not judging or accusing.

The only chance you will really get to drink - would be during home time. Certainly not at orientation (you will get SENT HOME) or while you're IN THE TRUCK for training (again - you will likely be SENT HOME). If your trainer gets home time and you get put in in a hotel (for example), you could probably tie one on. But again - not worth THE RISK.

I've seen guys in truck stops - drinking in their trucks. Interesting part of DUI law. If you are IN A VEHICLE, that you have physical (legal) control over (as in have the keys in your possession or immediately accessible) and are intoxicated - even if you are NOT IN MOTION (ie: parked) - it is considered DUI in many states. I have friends that were parked, passed out, car off, keys in the ignition - arrested and charged with DUI. So if you're slugging down some brewskies on your 10 (or 34) in the truck stop, sitting and idling - and a cop walks by and hits you with a breathalyzer - YOU ARE DUI.

So really, the safest thing you can do - as a truck driver - is NOT DRINK WHILE YOU'RE ON THE ROAD.

Rick

I have not consumed alcohol for many years. I used to get "Hammered" more often than just weekends. I can not imagine operating a CMV with my former "Lifestyle". I would recommend giving up on weekend benders if you want to get into this Business. Alcohol and Trucking do not mix.

Could be a good thing to stop anyway.

It certainly was for ME!

Milo, many of these trucking companies are conducting random alcohol tests these days. I've been random tested for alcohol three times in the past year. Twice with a mouth swab, and once with a breathalyzer.

I don't know if it was coincidental or not, but each time it was done on my first day back from home time. My company is really strict on this issue. They have a policy that states you cannot drink while the truck is in your possession. So drivers who want to drink on their home time must park their truck at a terminal while on their home time.

Just remember you can be tested at any time.

And watch out for mouth washes that have alcohol in them. That can show a positive on a test. At least you have fresh breath during your explanation.

I didn't know about mouth swabs till this thread but I know that urine does not show alcohol, only blood does. There is a hair test that will show history of alcohol use but I can't imagine that could be used for an "under the influence" situation. I wonder how far back mouth swabs are able to detect alcohol intake. Having been an RN for 24 years I have done a ton of blood draws for cops while working in the ER.