Legalized Weed Issues ....

There is no "legalized weed issues" in the trucking industry. The rules are clear. No drug use. Period. That includes marijuana in a state where it's legal.

 

Good point! Maybe someone can use that in court

 

What's that got to do with driving a truck, or operating a machine that's out there with the rest of the public ?
I'm not against smoking pot driver, back in the day it was cool.
It was a choice after I got my license, they both don't work together very well.
Driving a truck put money in my pocket smoking pot didn't, not difficult to figure what my choice was now was it...?
So you mean to tell me it's okay for you to smoke some legal pot with an airline pilot before take off which he's in control of flying a plane this day, with you and the other passengers on board ?
Your about to board a train or ride the rapid transit, and you see the crew doing a joint before the train leaves the terminal, are you still riding that train when it's time to depart ?
Any substance that impedes your judgement, for which you are in control of a vehicle in transportation, means you got the be focused on what your doing when other lives are at stake as well as your own ?
There's no exception that's acceptable for doing drugs or alcohol and then think your able to perform your job in transportation driver.
Just what is it, that's so difficult to understand about this ?
You want to partake in such activity, "HAVE AT IT" !
Just don't look to return to your livelihood till your system is clean from your "good time".
The fact is, you can't afford to be off for 30 days or longer till you "clean up" to return to work...!
No carrier is going to allow such activity from a "party hardy weekend", and loose a driver for the next 30 or more days, where there's no guarantee that both his oars are going to be in the water to perform his J-O-B.
My final question to YOU, if a member of your family was killed in an accident with a truck, and the driver tested positive for "legalized weed" in his system, How Would You Feel Then..?

 

Again, nobody is suggesting smoking a fatty and going truck driving! Why do people always think people want to smoke weed while they drive. The problem is if you smoked a little on Friday and the following Thursday you have an accident, whether you are at fault or not, you are totally screwed. If you think that little bit of weed from six days ago contributed to that accident, you are a total moron and you should think about turning in your CDL. Nobody should ever drive under the influence of anything ever, but nobody should drive with their head up there but either.

Adam

 

BUT! you know that any time they can just give you a random. Is getting high worth your career??? No.

 

Adam, My Fellow Drivers,
On my Facebook page are pictures from a head on crash I was involved with, that happened around noon in Caledonia Ohio on Friday less then 10 miles from delivery.
I've written the information there, and the pictures speak for themselves.
Their was 2 post accidents drug test, urine by the State of Ohio breathalyzer by my carrier.
Where would I be if, I did some pot smoking from last weekend let's say, and administered to those drug test today ? (Friday)
Adam I still haven't seen a response to my question I asked you.
Someone in your family was in a truck accident and was killed, which the truck driver tested positive on his post accident drug test, how would you feel about that ?

Lorie J Reed on Facebook

 

To Stexan,Big Don,D33rhunt2r,Oldslowchevy,
My fellow Brother-en of Trucking
The events from my "head on crash" accident near Caledonia Ohio on SR 309 Friday 4/4/14 leads me to say this to you all.
You don't want to have ANY substance of ANY kind in your system while driving a truck for a living.
The states have all the federal guide lines their to follow with their investigation of the accident, which will be reported to D.O.T. because it was a commercial vehicle involved in the accident.
It was close to the end of the investigation that was under Ohio's State Patrol lead, after everyone was notified as who was coming in to do whatever was needed, and those personal started showing up, that I was taken to give up some urine for the "piss test".
The trooper drove me just down the road, from the crash site to a rual convenient store gas station, were the men's bathroom was not really for public use that the pee test was completed.
The representatives from my carrier took me to Marion General Hospital for a breathalyzer test to be done.
The accident...Not My Fault....Under D.O.T. rules for the type of accident this was two post accident drug test were given to me.
I've said all this to say.....If your smoking pot, or doing any illicit drugs that stay in your system for a period of time, your asking for trouble when it comes down to driving a commercial vehicle.
This accident came from out of Nowhere Drivers, I was less then 10 miles from delivery.
The State trooper commended me for how I handled my part of it, as we were headed to do the piss test.
"This accident could have been a lot worst, had you not stayed in your lane of travel like you did" was his conversation to me, my carrier's vice president of operations called my cell phone and spoke with me, as this was wrapping up.
Driving a loaded tanker, or any large truck requires a focus, and the attention of being in control of your equipment at All Times under All Conditions....Period
If you drive with a perception that it's everyone else but me, that something could happen while driving, and that multitasking while driving large equipment is okay, Please rethink that again to ask yourself "Am I In Control Of This Equipment"
It's for that reason Alcohol and Drug use will not be tolerated in trucking, and the rules to these regulations are in place, to keep us All Safe.
I'm not "high tech" enough to get the pictures I have on here, but you can view them on my facebook page. Lorie J Reed
I'm just a messenger here, what you do, or how you choose to handle driving your equipment, and your time off from driving is.."Your Call"...!
Just remember you'll have to face the consequences for your actions....That's the responsibility we all have as truck drivers in this industry.
No excuses, we've been trained to drive large equipment safely, and had to demonstrate that we could drive this equipment with the rest of the "motoring public" in a safe manor before your license was issued you.
Keep Safe At All Times....!

 

No you won't see it.

1 - the insurance industry is strong and to allow this takes accidents onto a more dangerous level - meaning more money to change hands, more involvement of the insurance companies.

2 - there is a large number of the population who can't control themselves, so this will end up leading to more fatalities on the roads and then a backlash against the legalization of cannabis.

3 - in our profession we are more likely than not report someone who uses so it will end up being the same old story for us - to protect others from those reckless truckers, more regulations and enforcement is needed.

4 - other than those who use it for pain control, anyone who uses is stupid to begin with - do we want more stupid people driving?

 

Here is what I truly believe, when it comes to this issue

California / Illinois / Oregon have medical pot laws along with a few other states.
Washington / Colorado have set up are in process of setting up cafe shops where people can buy for recreational use.

for one to say Feds going to jump in and shut things down you are correct and can but here is the real kicker to the whole thing to see where things end up.

look at Washington and Colorado as test states, now drug arrests when it comes to pot will be less, and the big winner will be how much money is not only generated but saved for legal sale and recreational use. Once the numbers are in and verified I can see rules and laws being changed when it comes to pot use. California is constantly looking for ways to make money, and if profits are shown you don't think California will be next to jump on the band wagon.

alcohol was prohibited at one time, and then re-legalized later, moonshine was prohibited too, but is now legalized also.

There are places where pot is legalized such as in Amsterdam not sure what their rules towards those who drive trucks or not are but it's been legal there for some years.