Nearly 41,000 truck drivers tested positive for marijuana in 2022, a 32% increase over 2021, according to a report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. The 177,376 total positive test results since the Clearinghouse opened in 2020 show that marijuana accounted for the most drug-test failures, followed by cocaine, methamphetamines, and amphetamines (90% of total). Dan Horvath, vice president of safety policy for American Trucking Associations, said the numbers were trending in the wrong direction due to legalization efforts and misconceptions about when marijuana use is legal.
The rising numbers of positive marijuana tests underscore concerns raised earlier this month by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Their report recommended a warning label on cannabis products, standardizing tech testing for drug use detection, and enhancing state drug-impaired driving laws. As of Jan. 4, only 46,000 of 166,000 drivers who failed at least one drug test have completed the return-to-work process. Experts suggest a field-sobriety test for marijuana similar to alcohol tests. Currently, law enforcement officers can recognize impairment but lack a way to confirm marijuana use at the roadside. NTSB board member Tom Chapman said: “We’ve long known about the devastating impact of alcohol-impaired driving, but this [NTSB] report shows that impairment from other drugs, especially cannabis, is a growing concern that needs to be addressed.”
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has begun research on marijuana decriminalization and its effects on the trucking industry. The results are expected in 2023. Truck drivers caught using marijuana can lose their job and face legal liability. Plus, there is a critical driver shortage. ATRI will focus on trends including where marijuana is legal, how many people live in those states, and the percentage of truck drivers in those states. They will also survey safety, company, and human resources executives regarding hiring and maintaining the workforce. Short believes the research will explain why truck drivers are not returning to work after drug tests.
Sources:
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/positive-marijuana-tests-among-drivers-grow-alarming-rate
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/federal-officials-plan-add-fentanyl-drug-tests
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