About this episode
TalKCDL is the Number One Trucking Podcast on planet Earth. This isn't just our claim but yours also. Tramadol & The Looie-Ville Truck Show. Truck drivers are already signing up for the new drug clearing house. Ruthann from TalkCDL wanted to make sure every driver understands what registering for the program means. She explained how and when a trucker must sign up and why. The new drug clearing house is a program designed by the government to track all professional truck drivers that have a positive drug screen. How the drug clearing house works All drug screens must now be ministered by a D.O.T. medical physician. The doctor is now in charge of entering any and all failed drugs screens. Therefore the trucking company that the driver is working for now has no control over reporting the drivers name to the proper authorities. Once a doctor obtains a positive result, he/she must then enter the name into the drug clearing house. Once entered into the drug clearing house with a positive result, each driver must then do through the SAP or Substance Abuse Program also ministered by a D.O.T. authorized company. The driver then must complete a "return to duty status" before he/she is permitted to drive a commercial truck again. No escape Since the birth of the drug clearing house in January of 2020, there has been an average of 100 truck drivers per day reported as having a positive drug screen result. There is no escaping this program. Each driver is monitored by the D.O.T. and there is nom mercy when it comes to the end result. Once a trucker is flagged in this program he/she most likely will have a super hard time getting a trucking job for the next 5 years. From the time the driver is reported as failing, he/she will be marked for a period of five years. Most trucking companies will not hire a truck driver ever if they are aware of any drug screen failures. Tramadol is the baby aspirin of narcotics Tramadol & The Looie-ville Truck Show. The drug tramadol is considered a very mild narcotic. The drug is used for pain and some are prescribed tramadol for anxiety. It is considered a low risk for addiction but it is still considered a controlled substance. Recently a truck driver that TalkCDL interviewed had confessed that he had failed a drug screen for the drug tramadol. He had a broken tooth and was prescribe this drug. Because it is debated wether tramadol is a narcotic or not he thought nothing of the prescription. Tramadol at one time was not on the controlled substance list but recently had been added to it. This driver tested positive for the drug and was terminated by his trucking company. Be sure you always check with your doctor when taking any prescribed medicine. Truck drivers are randomly tested and need to know which drug will cause them to test positive for any drug that is not permitted to be in his/her system. https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.govhttp://talkcdl.com/s2e27-truckers-face-off-with-protesters/http://talkcdl.com/s2e22-trucking-company-makes-a-mistake-watch-what-you-say-on-facebook/https://www.truckingshow.com Louisville Truck Show - MATS TalkCDL is scheduled to be at the Louisville Truck Show this year. The dates are from March 26th thru March 28th. Be sure and say hi to Troy and Ruthann. They will be walking around filming and taking pictures. TalkCDL has press passes and will have access to quiet rooms to conduct a podcast. If you are wanting to meet up with TalkCDL this year please message us and we will make arrangements to meet up with the crew. Email us at Troy@TalkCDL.com. Tramadol & The Looie-Ville Truck Show!