The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has requested approval from the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a research study that will collect data from state motor carrier safety agencies to assess ways to address controlled substance and alcohol violations among non-CDL commercial motor vehicle drivers and improve abilities to prevent, detect, and enforce these violations.

FMCSA cited a recent study conducted in 2022 that found nearly one in five CMV drivers tested positive for controlled substances, with alcohol and Tetrahydrocannabinol showing up in 4 percent of samples and opiates detected in 1.5 percent. Similarly, 2022 data from FMCSA revealed 2.8 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks involved truck drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, double the legal limit for CDL holders.

Also, about 5.5 percent of CMV drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for illicit drugs, though testing was not conducted for all drivers. The agency said these findings highlight the heightened risks posed by substance use among CMV drivers, with research showing that alcohol presence can increase crash risk by two to four times.

FMCSA asserts there is a need for a more unified approach to regulating and enforcing substance use policies for all CMV drivers. The agency argues that strengthening oversight and ensuring consistent enforcement across states is critical to improving safety on our roads and protecting lives.

The notice states the purpose for obtaining data in this study is to assess ways to address controlled substance and alcohol violations among non-CDL CMV drivers to improve state partners’ resources and abilities to prevent, detect, and enforce these violations. The primary aim of this study is to gain insight and document agency needs, knowledge gaps, technological limitations, financial shortfalls, and opinions related to strategies for improving aspects of the CMV safety program.