How often are truck drivers abusing drugs and alcohol?

If you feel uneasy anytime you find yourself driving near a semi-truck, you are not alone. Trucks, based on size and weight alone, pose a substantial threat to everyone else on the roadway, and the fact that many of today’s truck drivers are abusing drugs and alcohol makes sharing the road with these vehicles more dangerous than ever.

Just how prevalent is the substance abuse problem in the trucking industry? According to the American Addiction Centers, a series of 13 studies on truck driver substance abuse conducted between 2000 and 2013 revealed some extremely troubling statistics surrounding trucker substance abuse. In fact, the results of those 13 studies revealed that alcohol abuse is a particularly notable problem in the industry, with up to 91% of commercial truckers surveyed acknowledging drinking while on the clock.

Amphetamine use, too, has long been an issue for truck drivers, with many of them abusing methamphetamine and similar substances in an attempt to increase alertness and drive longer stretches at a time. In the series of 13 studies on truck driver substance abuse habits, about 82.5% of drivers reported abusing amphetamines while on the job.

What is it about the trucking profession that makes workers so likely to turn to drugs or alcohol? Truck drivers often experience loneliness and boredom due to the nature of their profession, and this is likely a contributing factor in why so many truck drivers abuse substances. Fatigue, too, is a common issue for truck drivers, and truckers who feel fatigued might be more likely to turn to amphetamines or other “uppers.”

This information about drug and alcohol abuse in commercial trucking is educational in nature and is not legal advice.