Part 40 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations deals exclusively with drug and alcohol testing procedures. There are over 167 pages of legal procedures and tests described in this chapter. It is very complex even for the most savvy amongst us!

Random testing of CDL drivers at a transportation company ranges from 25% to 50% of the driver corps annually. These random tests are conducted throughout the calendar year on a month-to-month basis.

It is detrimental to the career of the professional motorcoach operator that he or she knows what is contained in any medicine or Over-the-Counter (OTC) drug he is taking. Just as the operator has to take personal responsibility of any safety violation that exists on a motorcoach (i.e. slow brakes, etc.) and repercussions from said violations, so is he responsible for his actions caused by taking medications, OTC products, or of course products containing alcohol.

Drug specimen testing labs look for the following 5 classes of drugs:
a.) Marijuana metabolites
b.) Cocaine metabolites
c.) Amphetamines
d.) Opiate metabolites
e.) Phencyclidine (PCP)
There are cutoff concentrations for all these chemicals. This is why the labs use split samples, to retest not only the presence of a drug, but its concentration.

There are prescribed drugs as well as OTC drugs that can contain part or parts of these positive testing substances.

This is why it is of the very highest importance that you make your doctor, medical professional, or pharmacist be aware that you are a CDL over-the-road commercial vehicle operator...that there are national laws protecting the riding public, and very strict standards.

Ask your doctor, medical practitioner, pharmacist these questions:
Is this medication allowed for a CDL driver?
Can this make me drowsy? If so, are there any alternatives, or can you write me an excused absence?
Can you operate heavy machinery with this medicine? If not, you cannot operate a 26 ton motorcoach!

There are many, many OTC products used for colds, fever, asthma, allergies, pain, sleeplessness, and other symptoms that post warnings on the product label:

"May cause drowsiness."
"Marked drowsiness may occur."
"Do not operate heavy machinery."

These should always raise a red flag for you. "If I use this product at 7 PM will I be alert and fresh for work at 7 AM?" and so on...

Ask your doctor or pharmacist first, and if they can't help, then ask the company Safety Department.

And always, always, when undergoing a random drug test (RDT), always tell the medical agent any and all prescribed or OTC drugs that you have used in the previous 2-3 weeks.

For example, codeine syrup, a commonly prescribed anti-cough meds has small concentrations of cocaine metabolites. This must be indicated on the RDT paperwork prior to leaving the collection office. Also, if possible, find the written prescription or request a copy from your physician.

-Operator Dave Kollisch