| At the present time, the federal
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| | Many people have the false notion that
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| government requires pre-employment drug
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| | driving after smoking marijuana is safer
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| tests and then random testing after being
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| | than driving after drinking. This is
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| hired for all commercial truck drivers.
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| | simply not true. Marijuana can affect
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| The law specifically states that drivers
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| | concentration, perception and reaction
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| with a commercial driver's license (CDL)
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| | time as long as 24 hours after it is
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| are subject to drug testing as are truck
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| | smoked. That is much, much longer than
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| owner-operators with a CDL and motor
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| | alcohol affects a driver's behavior.
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| carriers who employ drivers with a CDL.
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| | Marijuana has been found to be a factor
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| A recent study by the Insurance Institute
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| | in over 12% of fatal trucking accidents.
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| for Traffic Safety showed that 15% of all
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| | In recent years, out of the truckers
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| interstate truck drivers had marijuana in
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| | tested randomly for drugs and alcohol, a
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| their system, 12% had stimulants
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| | whopping 45% showed marijuana in their
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| (non-prescription), 5% had prescription
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| | system.
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| stimulants, 2% had cocaine and less than
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| | Methamphetamine
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| 1% had alcohol in their system.
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| | Due to the very long hours they often
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| Alcohol
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| | have to work, truck drivers are always
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| Regarding alcohol use, a driver does not
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| | looking for ways to stay awake and alert
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| have to be drunk to be impaired. Even
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| | to meet deadlines. It has been reported
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| very low blood alcohol content (BAC)
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| | that 17 out of every 20 truckers say it
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| levels impair driving performance by
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| | is very easy to find methamphetamine at
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| reducing the driver's reaction time and
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| | truck stops along their route. Truckers
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| slowing his decision-making process. At
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| | have recently been succumbing more and
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| the current time, the federal government
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| | more to the powerful drug due to the fact
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| prohibits commercial truck drivers,
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| | it can keep people awake for several
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| railroad and mass transit workers, marine
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| | hours and sometimes days at a time.
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| employees, and aircraft pilots from
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| | Surveys and roadside tests have indicated
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| operating vehicles with a BAC at or
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| | that one in five truckers use stimulants
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| greater than 0.04%. The number of
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| | on some of their trips.
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| accidents caused by intoxicated truck
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| | Perhaps there is a need for more drug
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| drivers has actually decreased in recent
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| | testing of our nation's truck drivers.
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| years. Statistics show that approximately
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| | Though most truckers are tested randomly
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| only 1-3% of trucking accidents are
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| | after their date of hire, many of them
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| caused by an impaired truck driver.
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| | even say it is not often enough.
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| Marijuana
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|
