Drinkin' on the road
 

No I dont mean when driving, but are there regs or laws that ban you from having a few during resets or what not? One of my buddies grandfathers was an old school trucker, and he told me the best part about being OTR was "A different bar and hooker every night"

Like I said, he is old school. But I remember hearing something about not being able to drink at all when you are on the road, whether on or off duty.

Don't know the rules as they do not apply to me, 11 years clean.

There are several who post around the trucking forum circus about having drinks while stopped over night. Call your company and see what they say the rules are.

The days of the back row and hookers are all but gone with the exception of a few places that still flourish.

i know the company i pulled for said no drinking why you were under a load or with any company equipment

Keep in mind too, that the DUI threshold is .04 for CDL holders.

Thats when driving a truck right, not when you are driving a 4 wheeler?

Nope; it applies for any vehicle you are operating.

Also, if you drink otr; you have to be out of the truck in a motel room, and cannot go back on duty for at least 24 hours.

Forgetting, as you say, drinking or being drunk behind the wheel:

DOT does NOT say you can't drink while on your own time. What they say is that you can't drink 4 hours before going on duty, and can't blow a .04 if stopped and tested. .02 or less is considered negligible and can't be considered by them. From there to .04 WILL put you Out Of Service, but not a conviction.

The real authority is your company (due to insurance mostly.) If THEY relieve you of duty (ROD) for a period of time.... or if you are taking a 34 hour reset, you can drink if you want, within the above rules.

But, I wouldn't do ANY of it while IN the truck, especially if the key is in the ignition or the engine running. As for drinking in a bar, then returning to your "idling" truck and going straight to the sleeper? I think I discussed this on another thread long ago. I can't even remember if I won the argument or not! :lol:

Probably NOT a good idea. If you MUST try out a bar while on the road, and ON a reset.... be very careful, discreet, and informed. Does it happen? Yes. Do MORE than 1% of offenders get in trouble? Probably not. If you want to risk it, drink NO MORE than two beers, EAT something, take a long walk, and don't return to your truck for 4 hours.

Or, just get a motel room.

Nope .. you will have a CDL. So .04 is Prima Facia evidence of driving under the influence car or truck. You will have to prove you were not DUI.

Good luck.

Also .. I just saw a driver arrested after having a couple of peers at a pizza joint and climbing into his cab. Cops were called and the driver arrested. Keys in the ignition with the truck at idle.

If I have a drink on the road because of a layover I always get a hotel and stay completely away from my rig.

Also .. if you tie one on and still are under the influence the next day .. you will be in serious trouble.

I would just drink on home time .

Just a heads up - alcohol is not permitted ANYWHERE in a commercial vehicle, unless it is part of a manifested shipment.

If you gotta drink, do it at home.