Trucker substance abuse violations increasing
Many New Jersey motorists exercise extra care when driving close to commercial trucks. However, research shows that not all commercial truck drivers are exercising the same level of care. A Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse that logs trucker alcohol or drug infractions took shape in early 2020. The clearinghouse reveals concerning information about the prevalence of substance abuse among professional truckers.
According to the Commercial Carrier Journal, drug and alcohol violations among commercial truck drivers are increasing. If the numbers continue to move in the same direction for the rest of 2021, the number of truckers who receive violations this year will surpass that seen in 2020.
How the clearinghouse works
Trucking company employers must comply with certain clearinghouse mandates as far as reporting driver substance abuse infractions and researching potential new drivers they might hire. When a driver receives an alcohol or drug violation and it appears in the clearinghouse, that driver must follow a certain “return-to-service” process before he or she becomes eligible to drive a truck again.
What the clearinghouse shows
So far, the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has revealed that both alcohol and drug violations are common among semi-truck drivers. Since the clearinghouse took effect in early 2020, there have been 69,100 trucker drug violations and 1,552 alcohol violations. Some of the violations were for refusing to take drug or alcohol tests. Others were for failing these tests, among other infractions. Marijuana was also a frequent factor in trucker substance abuse violations. This may be due in part to the fact that marijuana laws differ broadly from state to state.
As of early April 2021, there were more than 64,000 truck drivers taking part in the return-to-duty process after receiving substance abuse violations.
Bicycle Riders – Governor Murphy Signed Safe Passing Requirements into Law
Between the pandemic, gas prices, and a desire for healthy exercise, bicycle traffic has increased in New Jersey and throughout the country. Now New Jersey has joined 42 other states in mandating that drivers give bicyclists more room when passing – or face penalties...
Egg Harbor crash kills two, injures two others
Most people in New Jersey take to the state's roads and highways expecting that the other motorists they encounter care as much about accident avoidance as they do. While that assumption often proves true, there are those instances where one encounters an...
Commercial vehicle accidents and operator fault
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates that commercial truck drivers use an electronic logging device. As noted by FreightWaves, instead of tracking their road hours on a paper log, an ELD records the information for drivers and stores it...
What are some sources of animal bite injuries?
Although some animals seem harmless at first, their bites may carry a variety of diseases and can even cause serious physical injury. Learning more about why these wounds make people ill or injured can help you understand what to do next. Disturbed resting areas...
What are signs of brain trauma?
After a shocking accident, you may notice signs of a worse issue happening with your brain and skull. Traumatic brain injuries can happen suddenly and affect every aspect of your life. Detecting the early signs of this problem will help you prevent further health...
What is premises liability?
You do not want to consider the prospect of an injury while out and about, but the reality is, there is always a chance. However, what makes an incident qualify under premises liability versus an unfortunate accident? Premises liability covers incidents that happen on...
5 of the Most Common Types of Cases to Appear in Civil Court
The civil court system is available to resolve conflicts between individuals, businesses and organizations. Craig Annin & Baxter’s Woodbury NJ civil law attorneys have expertise in helping their clients find the justice they deserve. Anyone considering legal...
APPELLATE DIVISION UPHOLDS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR JUDGMENT IN MMA FIGHTER’S SHED RX CONTAMINATION CASE.
Cockerill, Craig & Moore, LLC partner Jeffrey S. Craig worked with Howard Jacobs to vindicate and obtain compensation for Yoel Romero whose rise in MMC rankings was detoured by contamination of a Gold Star supplement he took as part of his training regimen. Gold Star’s SHED RX product was contaminated with a banned substance causing Romero to fail a screening. Finding that Gold Star violated New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act a trial court awarded a multi-million dollar judgment. The Appellate Division reviewed the judgment and upheld the trial court in part, modified one aspect of the judgment, and remanded a third category of damages for further consideration. The modified award now totals $12,450,000 with the potential for that to be increased to compensate Romero for harm to his reputation. Yoel Romero v. Gold Star Distribution, LLC d/b/a Gold Star Performance Products, A-0379-20 New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division decided June 24, 2020.
What leads to a slip and fall injury?
Not only can slip and fall injuries leave you with severe head and spine complications, but you can also struggle to know who was at fault. Knowing how these incidents happen is important for anyone struggling to recover after a fall. Unsafe conditions According to...
What is the average cost of an SCI?
Spinal cord injuries are serious no matter how minor the damage. The effects of one range from numbness and tingling at the extremities all the way to full-body paralysis. This severity requires rapid attention, which may result in costly surgeries, long hospital...