Journal Published Online: 01 May 1988
Volume 33, Issue 3

Drug Use by Tractor-Trailer Drivers

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Blood or urine samples or both were obtained from 317 of 359 randomly selected tractor-trailer drivers asked to participate in a driver health survey conducted at a truck weighing station on Interstate 40 in Tennessee. Altogether, 29% of the drivers had evidence of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, prescription or nonprescription stimulants, or some combination of these, in either blood or urine. Cannabinoids were found in 15% of the drivers' blood or urine; nonprescription stimulants such as phenylpropanolamine were found in 12%; prescription stimulants such as amphetamine were found in 5%; cocaine metabolites were found in 2%; and alcohol was found in less than 1%. These results provide the first objective information about the use of potentially abusive drugs by tractor-trailer drivers. The extent of driver impairment attributable to the observed drugs is uncertain because of the complex relationship between performance and drug concentrations.

Author Information

Lund, AK
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Washington, DC
Preusser, DF
Dunlap and Associates, Norwalk, CT
Blomberg, RD
Dunlap and Associates, Norwalk, CT
Williams, AF
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Washington, DC
Pages: 14
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS12474J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12474J