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15
Nov
Important Laws for Truck Drivers to Know and Follow
Truck drivers are required to not only obey driving laws, but to understand the laws pertaining to DOT drug testing, ELDs and minimum wage. In this blog, we’ll spell out exactly what every truck driver should know going into 2020.
The Minimum Wage
The minimum wage varies across states and effective January 1st, 2020, 26 states will have minimum wage updates. Truck drivers should understand that the minimum wage applies to the state they live in, and is not dependent on which states the driver drives through. Check out this article by the LaborLawCenter to see if the minimum wage has increased in your state.
DOT Drug Testing
The latest legislature pertaining to DOT drug testing will require employers to assess the new Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse records for alcohol and drug violations when screening new employees, starting on January 6, 2020. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), CMV employers, State Driver Licensing Agencies and law enforcement officials will have full access to the clearinghouse. CDL driver drug and alcohol test failures will be recorded, as well as:
- Report for duty/remain on duty for safety-sensitive function with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater or while using any prohibited drug
- Alcohol use while performing, or within four hours of performing, a safety-sensitive function
- Alcohol use within eight hours of a post-accident alcohol test
- Test positive for use of specified drugs (This could include a post crash test, a pre-employment drug screening, or a random drug test)
- Refusing to submit to a required alcohol or drug test
Aspiring truck drivers should know that any drug or alcohol violations can be a serious obstacle in pursuing employment. This new rule raises the bar for the safety of all drivers on the road.
ELD Mandate
The electronic logging device (ELD) mandate went into effect on December 17, 2017 but also provided a flexible deadline of December 17, 2019 to give fleets enough time to switch from Automatic On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRDs).
Overall, these updates in legislature have been designed to protect the safety of all drivers and make sure truck drivers are able to safely perform their job responsibilities.