Instructions Relating To CDL DUI

By Sarah Butler


All the truck drivers and the other professional with a commercial drivers license tend to be taken to a higher standard than the non-commercial drivers regarding impaired driving. This is a rule that is established by FMCSA, and regardless of what kind of truck the commercial driver operates, they face much higher CDL DUI penalties than the other drivers. The reason behind this is because drinking under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts the public at risk. More so, they may cause serious liabilities especially to employers thus they have to avoid drinking and driving.

Some of the employees that are a high subject to FMCSA under the rules of alcohol violation are drivers working in the federal government, churches, local government, persons leasing their commercial vans, private and for-hire motor carriers. Thus, any driver under these areas who happens to violate the laws can be fined very highly and even has his license restricted.

Most states are now adopting the FMCSA rules and regulations that govern commercial drivers. Normally, the alcohol limit set is 0.4 percent concentration in the blood. More so, the rules state that any commercial driver under the influence of alcohol must not drive within four hours of drinking the same. The set limit is normally half that of the non-commercial truck operators.

A driver owning a CDL must submit to alcohol and drug testing randomly especially when authorities in charge have suspected them of violating the policy. This is typically done during accidents and when the driver has completed his suspension. The type of drugs they are typically tested for include opiates, amphetamine, phencyclidine, and marijuana. Failure to submit for testing can cause further complications.

If you happen to be pulled over by authorities who suspect you are on DUI and refuse to submit to testing, you may face very harsh penalties. This is because the authorities will assume you have pleaded guilty to violation alcohol and drugs policy and that you have disobeyed them. Therefore, the penalties will be like a double stroke.

To add on that, if you are a commercial truck driver and has a retail driving license and you happen to be convicted for positive alcohol test in your car, it is wise to inform your employer within a month.

In the events your license will be suspended or revoked, your employer will be barred from employing you until the license restriction period is over. After such a restriction, the drivers may find it quite difficult to obtain a job as a commercial driver due to the alcohol violation record. This means that it can cost you your career thus it is advisable to drink responsibly and avoid driving when drunk.

However, it does not mean that you can be barred from obtaining a commercial drivers license if you are convicted of breaking the laws set by FMCSA. The problem comes in when you are trying to accomplish employment after a long period of your license being suspended because most people avoid hiring people convicted of drinking and driving as they think that they can repeat the mistake.




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