driving and methadone

Depending on what the pain is from, you may find that trucking is NOT going to work for you either. It is a physically demanding line of work. I have back and shoulder problems, and would not even be able to think about getting back out there on the road.

 

okey dokey....... we get it, you think you're special because you are on MMT.

Look..... it's up to you and you're buddy as to what you do.

But understand this - It doesn't matter what your attorney said. Sure maybe in his interpretation, the statute doesn't specifically apply to MMT - BUT, it doesn't exempt it either AND, there is a section that specifically prohibits using it while driving a cmv.

Just remember, in the event of even the slightest accident, there is a possibility that you will be found out. Then your friend probably looses his company and you might even end up in jail.

It has nothing to do with the effectiveness, or qualities of the drug. It, in fact, is illegal to use or have in your possesion while operating a cmv.

BTW - what kind of probable cause do you thing that LE needs to search your truck?

Zero.


................... Jim

 

i don't think i'm special or that i'm trying to cheat anyone. i'm just replying to the person who said that i might as well be driving on morphine... which is TOTALLY different. as far as your reply you are incorrect, the fmcsa.dot.gov INTERPRETATION and GUIDELINE states it's not allowed... the federal statutes don't have a criminal classification for it, thus it is NOT a criminal offense.

Methadone does not impair cognitive functions. It has no adverse effects on mental capability, intelligence, or employability. It is not sedating or intoxicating, nor does it interfere with ordinary activities such as driving a car or operating machinery. Patients are able to feel pain and experience emotional reactions. Most importantly, methadone relieves the craving associated with opiate addiction. For methadone patients, typical street doses of heroin are ineffective at producing euphoria, making the use of heroin less desirable.

even as we speak MMT advocates are pushing for long OVERDUE reforms in the law. in my earlier posts i gave everybody a link to a "methadonetoday" newsletter which writes about trucking and MMT.

 

the law does not specify that you can't get CDL. the DOT interpretation/guidance says and i quote:
Guidance: Methadone is a habit-forming narcotic which can produce drug dependence and is not an allowable drug for operators of CMVs.

so pretty much you can get the cdl but you can't drive....

 

Then , why all of the fuss? Why don't you just accept what it is and consider another career?

Look this is knda harsh but ........ "methadonetoday" ? Newsletter? WTF? Over?

Really ?

<oh ... this is so going to go downhill ...>


Look drug abusers have no place in commercial driving. Yeah, I know you are on MMT ..... so what? You still have a mood/mind altering substance in your system. I really don't care what the "methadonetoday" newsletter has to say on the subject. Really, I don't.

Find another line of work.

We already told you that.


.................. Jim

 

This is probably why anyone who's using methadone cannot drive a commercial motor vehicle:

I would recommend you curtail driving a CMV until after you have been weaned off of the methadone. I applaud your efforts to change your life. I would also think that you wouldn't want to jeopardize those efforts by doing something that could potentially adversely affect your livelihood, before you are legal to do it (i.e. drive a big truck).​

 

Not to mention, alot of the states are getting into the process of requiring the medical card to be issued at the time of the CDL and the loss of the medical card can cease the CDL.

It also is not in the best interest to have this in the recent past to be a reason that a company who found it would post on DAC and we know what a problem that would be.

 

Just to serve as a warning. A friend of mine did what you are basically trying to do which is slide by and still work on a substance that is illegal in a commercial vehicle. He spent 5 years in prison for it in TN.

 

Once i found out the definite facts thru my dr and the school (that i will be attending starting next tues due to the fact monday is a holiday), i consulted with my doctor and immediately got off the methadone since it is against the law to drive cmv legally and safely for my pain management. It is LEGAL tho to be prescribed something else for pain management as long as you have your physical done from both the dot medical doctor AND Your prescribing doctor consults the dot doctor with legal statements filled out saying you are perfectly fine to drive cmv while taking current prescribed medications and that it will not alter your driving ability. And that IS clearly stated in the fmcsa as we researched it before i took any more action in obtaining my cdl license. The school allowed me to witness a driver who is in the same shoes as myself dealing with pain management and taking prescribed meds legally. He graduated, passed the training phase, and is now driving for a company LEGALLY and is happy. So moral of the story, methadone is a no no, but yes other meds are ok as long as you obtain proof from a legal certified doctor that your ok to operate in a safe manor.

 

at jimbo60 i have so say that your comments are rude and uncalled for, with your attitude i don't think you should be on the road. from the tone of your post i can tell you are a bitter and angry person.

you don't know me at all so please this statement is truly crazy. i will be off the meth in two weeks i am doing very good and am not a drug abuser.

i wasn't asking i was making a statement to ozzspeed that he can get the cdl but not drive

well your source of info "livingstrong" is just as valid or trustworthy as methadonetoday, even less as methadonetoday newsletter has letter from real people and their success stories.
don't take my word for it ( i know i posted before but here is the article you should read, it is very informative.
http://www.methadonetoday.org/A10N08.pdf


. at truckerswife... i'm sorry but you are NOT on this med. and you CAN'T say what the effects are and you are writing as if you're an expert on the subject, and then in your quote "methadone causes drowsiness and it causes insomnia" so which one is it .. ???? hahaha....i'm done with this thread cuz by the time im done with my schoool i will be done detoxing off of Meth. so problem solved for me, but i still think that people who are on it should NOT be automatically disqualified. yes there is alot of ppl who take meth, and still do drugs, and they are the ones that give ppl who take it an don't do drugs and detox and wanna good life a bad name. i'm currently on 3mg and will be done with detox in two weeks. so basically my point is that ppl who are taking on it and are on a STABLE dose (not too much, because they will get drowsy as you mentioned) are able to function perfectly in society and at any job whatsoever. so i'm saying test that person with a more precise test like hair follicle and find out if he's really clean and give 'em a chance.

p.s. just to clear things up. i'm sorry if i you guys think that i feel too strongly about this, but this med. saved my life... in six months i cleaned up my act. i'm working paying taxes not in trouble with the law, so i think that ppl should be given a chance... we all make mistakes. mine was expensive and painful, but i learned from it and moved on, but i see many people who are on this med. and are still coming into the program intoxicated, and the clincs don't do anything...which is crap if you ask me, ppl like that should be kicked out as they are only having a double habit. and are giving ppl who did right a bad rep.