Beer

Got to love those Dudley effing do-rights

 

So what difference does it make if the truck is near you? I am home and my truck is about 75' away in my shop. I have control of the keys and the truck is in my possession. Heck I have control of the keys and six trucks in my possession. And I have beer. In less than 2 minutes I could go hop in any of them and drive off.

 

Yes but by law you can PC from a truck stop to a store, restaurant, etc and the law says you can have alcohol while PC'ing.

 

I support that.

Ive already been active in my life to make sure there are no drugs or even drinking after a certain year in my own trucking life.

Even today I kind of became harder to fight to keep that crap out of big trucks. Going from the old VCR Classroom presentations about angel dust (That really dates me eh?) and "Say no" to legalized drugs in certain states today and so on so forth etc excluding my own battles with degenerative bone and nerves etc it's really grotesque.

Even here when people post and show signs of liking drugs or whatever, I'll try to stay nice and brief if they don't understand just how intolerant trucking has become. I had a drug test today to confirm that yes there is medicine in my system and with a BP of about 160 over 120 and a heart rate of 145 plus it's too extreme for the doctors office and it became a interrogation. Finally some medicines were changed and my referral and process made it through. Most of the heavy lifting on their end is against people who use drugs to get high on purpose etc. And remove them from the medical world permanently.

I had a driver today, rather than take a chance and drive as DUI in a passenger car. That goes to show how extreme I am willing to stay safe and not be part of the problem. It's one thing to teach newbies about drugs and drinking around big trucks at 40 ton etc and quite another when I actually have to function every day in that situation not by choice. I don't like it. But we all have a life to live and one spine to destroy lumping Lionel Toys out of the trailer.

 

My whole problem is I believe in personal freedom. When you are working you are on your employers time and must do what they are paying you for. When you are on your own time you should be able to do what you want. I don't use drugs and I don't think there is a way to test if you are under the influence of them vs just having used them so I think the current drug testing protocols are ok. That being said if they had a way to accurately test if someone was under the influence of marijuana I would not care if drivers smoked it off duty as long as they were not under the influence when driving. Personally I would not do it but I don't want to tell others what to do as long as it doesn't impact me. I run my own business and have employees and I don't drug test them other than where required by FMCSA as I think it is none of my business what they do in their off time. As long as you show to work sober and do a good job that is all I ask for. When you get off work go stick a needle in your eye for all I care. Just because you work for me does not mean I own your life.

 

You're completely right and it follows the "spirit of the law" vs "the letter of the law". Laws arent made and meant to keep us safe. They are used to control the masses.

Calling a drivers company and/or law enforcement on a driver for walking out of a store with alcohol is just purely chicken ####. In that same breath that sob would never dare step out of his truck and say 1 single word to anyone. Just hide in his truck. Hopefully he'll get run over by a Swift truck.

 

He probably works for Swift.

But in my humble opinion. I'm reminded of some very sage advice that i was given by a wise man.

Mind your own business, unless you see a crime being committed. Then be prepared to stand up and be counted.

 

I will step up my watching getting drugged up truckers ,drunk truckers ,and those who partake of the humane trafficking lot luzzards . Its It'sIts much easier with dash cams ,and sending them to the safety dept and showing the police .
I watched as the druggies took over this industry back in the 70s and 80s . Some people do not belong in trucking .

 

Accuse the wrong person you could end up hurt or you and the company you represent can find yourself embroiled in a lawsuit.

 

It’s not illegal to drink beer in a parked CMV.