Regulators to Meet on Risks of Truckers on Legal Drugs

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s advisory committee and medical review board will meet later this month to “identify concepts” the regulatory agency should consider in updating its policy regarding the risks of truck drivers’ legal use of stimulants, depressants and opioids.

The Oct. 27 meeting is a follow up to two meetings during which the medical review board heard reports on how such Schedule II drugs as OxyContin and amphetamines can affect driver performance and crash risk.

While some research results were mixed, several recent studies linked opioid use to increased risk of fatalities, injuries, crashes and unsafe driver actions, according to a July 29 presentation to the review board.

However, the research review concluded there is “weak evidence” to support the contention that legal use of stimulants increases crash risk.