Commercial Driver Evaluation For Drug And Alcohol Abuse

oig.dot.gov, Mar 08, 2006

Statistics show that over 5,000 people are killed each year in accidents involving large trucks. Many such accidents have been attributed to driver fatigue, unsafe vehicles, and unqualified operators. One of the strategic goals of the Department of Transportation is to "promote the public health and safety by working toward the elimination of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and property damage." In support of this goal, the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Department's criminal investigative element, has made its Motor Carrier Safety Program a top investigative priority.

To help protect the safety of the traveling public the inspection program of the Department’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces with civil remedies the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Among these regulations are laws governing the amount of time a driver can operate a commercial motor vehicle without rest, requirements for obtaining a commercial driver's license, maintenance of large trucks, and testing of commercial drivers for drug and alcohol abuse.

In furtherance of FMCSA's inspection program, OIG Special Agents investigate allegations that companies and individuals have violated criminal statutes relative to the Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

site: http://www.oig.dot.gov/Room?subject=10