Now is a good time to remind your drivers of the consequences of drinking during the holiday season and what effect their actions can have on their CDL or operator’s license and ultimately their employment with your company. Advise your drivers to use caution when indulging in alcoholic beverages and have a designated driver to not only protect their license and job but the motoring public. The FMCSA regulations are specific that a CDL driver while operating any type of motor vehicle is convicted of being under the influence of alcohol as described by state law will be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for one year. A second conviction would disqualify the driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life

When is Alcohol Use Prohibited?

Alcohol is a legal substance; therefore, the rules define specific prohibited alcohol-related conduct. Performance of safety-sensitive functions is prohibited:

• While using alcohol.
• While having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or greater as indicated by a breathalyzer test.
• Within four hours after using alcohol. In addition, refusing to submit to an alcohol test or consuming alcohol within eight hours after an accident or until tested (for drivers required to be tested) are prohibited.