The Impact of Drugs & Alcohol in Trucking

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the purpose and function of the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse — what violations are recorded, who must report them, and how State Driver Licensing Agencies use it to downgrade a CDL or CLP within 60 days.

2. Identify the DOT/FMCSA drug and alcohol violations — positive tests, 0.04+ alcohol concentration, refusals, actual knowledge, and prohibited use or possession — and describe the immediate removal and notification steps once one occurs.

3. Describe the five-step return-to-duty process, from SAP evaluation and compliance through RTD testing and the follow-up testing plan, including at least six unannounced tests in the first 12 months — and distinguish an RTD test from a pre-employment test.

4. Evaluate marijuana-related risk under current federal rules, recognizing that state legalization and medical marijuana cards are not valid defenses under 49 CFR Part 40, and summarize the open questions raised by potential Schedule III rescheduling.

5. Make sound employment and prevention decisions after a violation — what non-safety-sensitive work a driver may perform, why a positive test isn't automatic termination, the penalties for permitting a prohibited driver to drive, and the policies and supervisor training that reduce exposure beforehand.