A Utah trucker was in a serious accident just one day after results came back showing that he had failed a drug test.
Eddie Price took a pre-employment drug screening on September 9th and by September 13th the results came back as testing positive for methamphetamine. The very next day, Price was in a CMV accident which severely injured two other people.
According to an FMCSA report, Price’s carrier, Superior Service Transport, tried to help him. Instead of immediately firing him, they gave him information on substance abuse professionals and on the federal requirements that govern the return-to-duty process for drivers who test positive for drugs.
Price refused to complete the process and so with no way for him to continue driving, Superior Service Transport terminated him.
Then, a few weeks later, Price told Superior Service Transport that he had found a job with a different carrier. According to the DOT report, he also told them “that he did not intend to tell future employers about the positive test or include his former employer on employment applications.”
Because of this, the FMCSA has issued Price an imminent hazard out-of-service order.
Source: truckinginfo, fleetowner, overdrive, thetrucker, fmcsa
Bob says
Somebody screwed , besides the x driver
Jason Kane says
This article could use some clarification on the timeline of events.
The carrier tried to help him get into a program the day the results came back, or after the crash? Or even later than that? It says they informed him of the regulations for returning to duty after testing positive, but he was still out driving the next day? He should’ve been put OOS by the carrier as soon as the results came in. I sense a liability lawsuit against the carrier in the near future…
David Stout says
Yeah. The way the article is written isn’t clear at all on the time line. Poorly written article.
royce says
You said what I was thinking. No info on crash at all.
hugo miller says
The way I read it, it looks like there are two carriers involved – the first tried to help him, then he got a job with another carrier & had the crash. Not even sure if that makes sense though. Another thing not mentioned is whether he had any drugs in his system at the time of his crash – might have been just co-incidence.
Deke says
they lost me after the part where it appears he failed a “PRE” employment drug test, but still became employed.
Dan Bowkley says
Kind of flabbergasting that they hired him and handed him a set of keys before they got the results back. Every place I’ve ever worked, your orientation mysteriously takes just long enough for your test results to come back…
LowLife says
Ya,sounds like some one just made this story up to write about the parels of drug use on the road. Your not posed to get under load till pre-employment results come back. And if he had failed they would’ve shut him down at the next fuel stop cause they would’ve turned fuel card off. Story sounds shady.
Darren says
What an idiot! Glad to hear he’s permanently out of service.
Ronald agee says
In that case it would be hard to place blame on the carrier as the system don’t update immediately so he would have have been able to get into a job right away although he would have failed yet another drug screen. Utah should do like some other states and suspend driving privileges after failed drug test for Cmv drivers it’s not that hard just include state in chain of custody and hire a few more people for the states dmv offices
Steve says
Why make the driver suffer? Ppl can only do what you let them do. Meaning the company should be held responsible for the situation circumstances issues problem or matter seeing how they neglected to enforce the fmcsa rules on their behalf and/or report this guy while allowing him to drive. Greed will get ya.
Idrenak says
Yes heaven forbid anyone taking any personal responsibility for their own actions. It’s certainly the carrier’s fault he was a meth head.
DHC says
Exactly! Nobody wants to take responsibility for their own behavior anymore. It’s always someone else’s fault.
Dek says
Put your glasses on man, are you blind
John says
As always the carrier is responsible for the drivers mistake. The driver should be responsible for the accident. The American way now days put the blame on someone else don’t make the person that did the crime pay the price. and to steve the carrier did do his duty gave him a drug test the driver know he had done drugs before hand he is the idiot as in most cases.
Russell murray says
If it was pre employment drug test, why was he driving before the results came in? Not smart on the carrier.
Steve palmieri says
I’ve worked for companies that won’t even let u get behind the wheel until drug test comes back clean. And if their is a failed drug test you’re fired on the spot. I’ve not seen anyone offering counseling either. If you blow a drug test you’re pretty much done.
DHC says
As it should be!
Brian Chapman says
Irs Federal law that the employer has to give you information on an SAP and tell you where to find one if you are already employed by the company. Pre employment is a different story.
You also have to have an evaluation by the SAP and follow their recommendations. Education or treatment.
You also are not screwed. You can find a job after coming up hot. It just may take 3 years or so. Plus it’s up to the company whether they choose to help or not.
Yes this driver is totally at fault. Primarily for being stupid. Amphetamines and coca one only stay in your system about 3 days. He was either a constant user or just plain stupid.
My guess is stupid. Anyone that plays around with Satan’s own drug deserves what they get.
Now he’s made someone else pay for his actions.
I seriously hope he gets treatment.
Iceman says
I just left a pre employment drug screening and they sent 12 people home for failing no counseling,no keys to have accident carrier could be sued
Cherokee says
Looks like someone is trying to play the blame game and not letting all the facts out. I guess they think we are all stupid and can’t read between the lines. I’m sure there’s better stories to report on than this.
Acajoe says
Failing a pre-employment drug means you should ever GET behind my steering wheel.
We learned to wait until the test comes back before allowing someone to drive. If I like you enough I’d put you too work in the shop while we wait for the results.
Just practicing defensive business ownership..
Jason says
According to CFR a carrier must wait until results are in before allowing a driver to perform safety sensitive tasks, i.e. driving. They are also required to provide you with a list of SAP’s (substance abuse professional) should you fail drug or alcohol screening. They are however, not required to fire you. Bottom line, this driver should not have been behind the wheel, at least not until he has gone thru the return to duty process.
Bill says
I would say someone will be making a lot of $$$$$$
The carrier should also be fined big time and the driver needs to spend a little time in rehab then a cell. Just my thoughts.. Pisses me off because it makes the whole trucking industry look bad
Uncle Joe says
They have insurance so just pay up and put that driver back to work. All ready 2 million drivers short now.
John F. Belcher says
If I understand the article right,any case, you are not allowed to be behind the wheel until your drug test results have come back to the Company you want to work for, or are working for.
Northstar says
And just think. He probably was buying his drugs from the guy on the other side of the lunch counter at the truck stop that you looked at and said to yourself. Boy that guy looks like a crack head..
Short circuit says
If it was pre employment was was he driving before it came back ?
Nostroke says
The American way is to blame He who has the deepest pockets
Jeremy says
This article either false or the most extreme falure of protocol and procedure in Driver Check history.
Tirdad says
I think carrier hiding something by what I read here .No company will let u stay in ( as a driver) and offer you help unless they wanna confuse situation .
Sandy says
There’s ALOT of carriers out there that put drivers in the trk before the results come in. My fiancé has come across a few in his career and even tho he doesn’t do drugs he always refuses to drive til the results are in. It’s all about the almighty dollar these days, so if the carrier desides to go that route then pay the price as should the driver for knowing he had drugs in his system and still driving. Both are at fault
August Gilbert says
He should not have been able to get in the truck let alone drive it until the results were in,then the people that were injured wouldn’t have.I think they should hold the trucking company responsible also..
Noneya says
I failed a drug test back in 2000 and I almost immediately went back to work. I didn’t get clean until years later. I didn’t have any accidents though. I’ve also been driving for over 26 years now. I’m not proud of my past but I am now a respectable and safe driver.
Dave says
What is an Imminent Hazard Out of Service Order? I mean I can guesd the implications. But can somebody elaborate please?