(757) 333-3333The Trucker DUI Limit for Commercial Drivers
Truckers are subject to more onerous regulations than other drivers. It includes a different trucker DUI limit if you are behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle.
Drunkenness, possession of alcohol or use of any alcohol on duty is prohibited behind the wheel of a big rig. You cannot drink alcohol within eight hours of going on duty.
Many truckers fail to abide by these numerous federal rules just as they flout rules on not using cell phones.
Truckers are expected to stay sober while on the highway. Even a small level of impairment can likely affect their ability to operate a heavy truck.
The transport, possession or use of narcotics is illegal for a commercial vehicle driver. The only exception is a prescription drug provided by a doctor. This is only an exception when the medical provider has certified it will not impact the trucker’s ability to drive.
The Lower Trucker DUI Limit
Drivers operating their tractor trailers, dump trucks or other commercial vehicles using a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are held to a higher standard than other drivers when it comes to alcohol intoxication limits. Here are the DUI penalties for intoxicated commercial drivers:
- 0.04 BAC will lead to a commercial driver DUI
- 0.02 BAC will result in a 24-hour commercial driving suspension
- 0.08 BAC for off-duty commercial drivers who are not driving a commercial vehicle lead to a DUI.
Additionally, police have grounds to pull over and arrest drivers who don’t fall under these levels, but are obviously impaired by alcohol. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets out regulations for the alcohol and drug testing of commercial drivers. Earlier this year, I noted how a drunk trucker who killed a tow truck driver in Virginia was jailed for 11 years for the crime.
However, in my decades of helping motorists who have suffered horrendous injuries from big rig crashes, I have seen drunk truckers causing crashes.
The trucker DUI limit provides additional protection to other drivers. Big rigs being driven by intoxicated drivers are one of the worst things you can encounter on the road.
