Alcohol Testing

This might be a dumb question but drinking a few glasses of wine at home is OK right?

This might be a dumb question but drinking a few glasses of wine at home is OK right?

Refer to the CDL Handbook for your state; I believe most say that if you drink any amount of alcohol: There is a 24 hour wait period after you ingest the last drop.

OK, just wanted to make sure it was't something like 'we detected you have consumed alcohol three weeks ago'.

Refer to the CDL Handbook for your state; I believe most say that if you drink any amount of alcohol: There is a 24 hour wait period after you ingest the last drop.

OK, just wanted to make sure it was't something like 'we detected you have consumed alcohol three weeks ago'.

Refer to the CDL Handbook for your state; I believe most say that if you drink any amount of alcohol: There is a 24 hour wait period after you ingest the last drop.

Actually - I don't believe it's even 24 hours.

So if you're worrying about alcohol consumption prior to going to orientation - don't (worry). OTOH - DRUGS - a lot of companies do HAIR TESTING which will detect drug use up to 6 months (even though they are only supposed to test in the 90 day range). Even CERTAIN LEGALLY PRESCRIBED DRUGS - if you've DONE ANY RECENTLY - bring copies of your scrip and a letter from your personal physician describing WHY they were prescribed how long you were taking them, and that you no longer are.

But I wouldn't be popping any "cold frosties" during orientation or training - you will most likely find yourself on a bus home. Nor would I be planning on doing any "off duty" drinking in a truckstop, on your 10 hour breaks either. You can get away with having a few beers with dinner during a 34 reset on the first day - and certainly on your home time. But don;t be sitting INSIDE your truck and drinking.

But keep in mind - ANY DETECTABLE ALCOHOL while driving a CMV , is an IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION. Most drivers won't even use MOUTHWASH - for fear of tripping a breathalyzer.

It's really best - to save the drinking for HOME TIME. If you NEED to drink while on the road - you might just have an ALCOHOL PROBLEM (14+ years in recovery myself).

Rick

This might be a dumb question but drinking a few glasses of wine at home is OK right?

Any alcohol found in your system will put you off the road for at least twenty four hours. A BAC count of .04 will disqualify you for driving at least a year. Your company will most likely fire you anyway with the lightest offense. If you had two glasses of wine with a meal most likely there will be no notable traces in your system eight or more hours later. To me it would be trying to cram to much in with a 10 hour break. I am going to want to eat and go into a deep sleep for at least six hours all natural so I do not wake up groggy. At home hell yeah suck down some wine and eat a big meal, just be careful in case you get the call to roll.

I got to say i love a good beer and a small glass of whiskey . How ever I am local and go home every night so it is not a problem for me , Now any traceable amount is going to put you out of service for 24 hours . Forget exactly how long it takes for alcohol to leave your system but depends on your weight metabolism and how much alcohol you ingested . I would think 8 hours is plenty of time . Although you might have to wait longer to be safe to drive if you like getting " drunk " . I do not like to get drunk so again no problem for me . A hangover that makes you dizzy or otherwise not quite feeling stable is the same thing as driving drunk and you get the same penalty if caught . Same goes for any illness if you drive intentionally after knowing you were not real good to drive . My rule is that if I drink one swallow of anything I do not drive at all , car or truck . Not worth taking a slight chance to me . You could be just unlucky enough to pull out your driveway and find a dui road block half a block away . Not a problem for class C but you are different . I am not sure if Class A rules apply to you while in your car . I never concerned myself with looking into that as my " do not do it' rule makes sure I have no problem . 10 hours off duty ? Well you might want to stick with one beer or half glass of wine within the first two hours of that if you like a drink with dinner .