The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is rolling out a new initiative through its Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse to crack down on commercial truck drivers with a history of drunk driving. The goal? To keep impaired drivers off the road and reduce the risk of devastating truck accidents.
So, how does this program work, and why is it needed? The FMCSA’s Clearinghouse maintains a database of commercial drivers who have violated federal drug and alcohol regulations. Under the new program, drivers with a record of drunk driving offenses could face losing their commercial driver’s license (CDL), effectively barring them from getting behind the wheel of a big rig.
FMCSA Cracks Down on Truckers with DUI Violations
The FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse program targets commercial truck drivers with a history of impaired driving to improve road safety. The initiative aims to remove CDL drivers with a “prohibited” status—around 175,000 drivers—based on drug or alcohol violations, as reported by Yahoo News.
Launched on January 6, 2021, the Clearinghouse program established a national database listing CDL drivers with drug or alcohol offenses. On November 18, the program enters its second phase, where the FMCSA will actively start taking prohibited drivers off the road until they successfully complete a return-to-duty (RTD) process.
The RTD process focuses on re-educating commercial drivers about the dangers of impaired driving. Failure to complete this mandatory process could lead to a permanent loss of their CDL.
Spike in Drug and Alcohol Violations Among Truck Drivers
Drug and alcohol violations involving commercial truck drivers are on the rise. According to recent FMCSA records, the number of violations reported each year steadily increased from 2020 to 2023.
In 2020, authorities issued 1,106 violations nationwide. By 2023, that number had jumped to 1,588 violations. Among these, the most common types of offenses included:
- CDL drivers with a BAC of 0.04% or higher, leading to 1,027 violations in 2023.
- Drivers refusing to take an alcohol test, with 302 violations recorded.
- Violations based on “actual knowledge” of alcohol use, totaling 259 incidents.
The FMCSA data also revealed that many violations were discovered during pre-employment or random drug and alcohol tests.
Drunk Truck Drivers Behind a Rising Number of Accidents
Data shows that impaired truck drivers are a significant factor in many commercial truck accidents. In 2020, 2.9% of large truck accidents involved drivers with a BAC of 0.08% or higher, while 3.9% had a BAC of 0.01% or more, according to the NHTSA.
The following year, the statistics worsened. In 2021, impaired truck drivers—those testing positive for drugs or alcohol—were involved in 6% of all fatal truck accidents nationwide.
Why You Need an Experienced Indiana Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident claims might seem straightforward, especially when an impaired or unlicensed truck driver is involved. However, many quickly escalate into complex legal battles, particularly when serious injuries occur. Insurance companies and trucking companies often fight to minimize payouts, making it crucial to have a skilled attorney on your side.
At Boughter Sinak, LLC, our Indiana truck accident lawyers know what's at stake. We have a proven track record of handling serious truck accident cases, including a $2.2 million recovery for an injured victim in one truck accident case. With offices in Fort Wayne and South Bend, we serve clients statewide and operate on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay unless we win.
To learn more about how we can help you, give us a call or contact us online today to schedule your free case evaluation.