Heavy Duty Trucking, September 2019

HDT SEPTEMBER 2019 72 WWW TRUCKINGINFO COM If the substance or drug is prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner who is familiar with the drivers medical history and assigned duties and The licensed medical practitioner has advised the driver that the prescribed substance or drug will not adversely affect the drivers ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle When it comes to getting the medical card that commercial drivers need to legally drive also called a medical examiners certificate the doctor who wrote that prescription for the driver does not have the final word Thats up to the certified medical examiner who has undergone additional training and certification to understand the specific demands of the job of a commercial driver and the regulations they operate under According to an Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FAQ the prescribing doctor can write that the driver is safe to be a commercial driver while taking the medication Then the medical examiner may certify the driver for a medical card but he or she does not have to Certain medications such as opioids like oxycodone may be difficult to get clearance from the prescribing provider Megehee explains When this occurs there are two options The first is for the driver to work with his provider to change to a safer medication The second choice is for the driver to find a new medical provider who will obtain a medical history showing treatment effectiveness and review any reports of safetyrelated side effects Even medications where FMCSA guidance is that the driver be disqualified there is a process that medical examiners should take that greatly increases the chance the driver can be issued a medical examiners certificate he says Its understandable that doctors and trucking companies may be hesitant for truck drivers to take prescription drugs that could have safety related side effects even if they are prescribed for a valid medical reason But the evidence for just how dangerous they might be appears to be mixed About five years ago the FMCSA asked Acclaro Research Solutions to review the literature and research on the effect of legal use of Schedule II opioids on the risk of commersays Dave Osiecki president Scopelitis Transportation and Consulting and previously a longtime safety and advocacy expert at the American Trucking Associations Some drugs are always illegal for truck drivers to use These are classified as Schedule 1 drugs by the federal government and include heroin marijuana peyote and other substances There are no exceptions notes Michael Megehee a chiropractor on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and president of TeamCME an Oregonbased provider of driver medical testing that specializes in Driver Helpful CDL physicals according to its website Non Schedule 1 drugs however even though they may have side effects that can affect driving can be considered for use in commercial driving on a case by case basis Non Schedule I drugs may be used under an exception if the following is true according to the DOT in this segment of the industry Cocaine is a stimulant in the same family of drugs as amphetamines and some drivers may use stimulants to help them stay awake while driving long shifts A 2013 study of truckers and their working conditions around the world conducted by a Brazilian university found that the overall use of mind altering substance was high typically due to the long hours and desolate nature of the job according to American Addiction Centers Brentwood Tennessee in an article on its website Drugs of choice tended to be amphetamines and cocaine which stimulate drivers into staying awake for unnaturally long periods of time However side effects of their consumption include agitation hallucinations hypertension and dependence with impaired driving and death likely occurring as well The National Institute on Drug Abuse says cocaine use causes drivers of all types of vehicles to be aggressive and reckless hardly what you want in someone piloting an 80000 pound rig Couple that with a resurgence in cocaine on a national level According to the Drug Enforcement Administrations 2018 National Drug Threat Assessment a rise in cocaine use in recent years can be attributed to increases in availability thanks to increased Colombian cultivation of coca and production of cocaine Record levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia the primary source for cocaine seized and tested in the United States has widened the cocaine market leading to increased domestic abuse the report states Increased availability levels and concurrent lowered domestic prices will likely propel this trend through the near term Opioids According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse opioid use can cause dizziness drowsiness impaired thinking and judgment and doubles the risk of having a crash But when it comes to use by truck drivers and other safety sensitive transportation employees opioids that are legally prescribed typically for pain are something of a gray area There are a lot of people in society on prescription meds and drivers are no different PART 3 C O C A I N E O P I O I D S A N D T R U C K D R I V E R S TRUCKING UNDER THE INFLUENCE PART 3 Cocaine is up in trucking higher than the national numbers we have Its double the national average if we look at our trucking clients Ray Kubacki Psychemedics Regulations restrict what prescription drugs truck drivers may use Some are discouraged and may only be used when medically necessary on a case by case basis with the approval of a DOT certified medical examiner PHOTO GETTYIMAGES COM SHOTBYDAVE