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Truckers’ positive drug tests up 18% in 2022

Rate of increase doubled over previous year; marijuana violations up 31%

Latest data suggests trucker drug use is on the rise. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The latest data from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse reveals that drug use among commercial drivers may be at its highest level since the federal repository was set up in 2019 — but more are being cleared to drive again as well.

Total drug violations reported into the clearinghouse in 2022, including positive tests and refusals to take a drug test, increased 18% to 69,668 compared with last year’s 59,011, according to the most recent statistics released this week by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. That rate almost doubled the 9.2% annual increase in drug violations reported in 2021.

Much of the increase can be attributed to violations related to marijuana, the substance identified most in positive tests. Marijuana violations increased 31.6% in 2022 compared with 2021, to 40,916. That compares to a 5.3% increase between 2020 and 2021.

In fact, positive drug tests reported into the clearinghouse in 2022 increased in 12 of 14 substances tracked by the database, with only hydrocodone and heroin showing decreases.


Some of the increase in total violations can be attributed to the fact that completed registrations from drivers, employers and third-party organizations have been added each year since the clearinghouse began accepting registrations in September 2019. However, the number of registrations added annually has steadily declined since 2020 as the database gradually fills with all FMCSA-regulated registrants.

Regarding marijuana specifically, there has been speculation that increasingly liberal state marijuana laws could also be a factor — even though federal law preempts state law regarding the use of both medicinal and recreational marijuana by commercial drivers.

“While the numbers are a little jarring, it is clear the clearinghouse is working as intended,” P. Sean Garney, co-director of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting, which specializes in truck safety, regulations and compliance, told FreightWaves.

Garney pointed to data in the report showing that there were double the number of positive tests for preemployment screening versus positive tests taken randomly from drivers last year.



Substances identified in positive drug tests reported as of Jan. 4, 2023.
*Total since Jan. 6, 2020. Source: FMCSA

“It’s far more common for a driver to test positive in a preemployment environment, and before the clearinghouse, carriers had no way to know if a driver they were considering was prohibited from operating a [commercial motor vehicle] based on that test,” Garney said. “[This data] shows me the system works.”

In addition, the data shows that more drivers are getting rehabilitated and reentering the trucking workforce, he said. At the end of 2020, only 12.5% of drivers who had tested positive had been cleared to drive again. In 2021 that number increased to 22.7%, and it increased again in 2022 to 27.6%.

Garney also noted that starting on Jan. 6 — after three full years of clearinghouse operation — motor carriers were no longer required to query a driver’s previous employer to request drug and alcohol testing histories, because they are now able to go back three years within the clearinghouse.

“Some carriers have been nervous that eliminating the previous employer inquiry might cause them to miss important information about a driver’s drug testing history,” he said.

However, with more than 3 million drivers and over 443,000 employers registered, “the clearinghouse is operating at full tilt and as intended, making it a great source of truth for this information. This should make wary carriers feel better about streamlining their procedures by using the clearinghouse.”

Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher.

32 Comments

  1. James beauregard

    Been driving since 1998, used vapes to quit smoking and lost mine for a false positive test due to vapes, and don’t have the 690.00 they want to re instate you, it’s just a hustle, they wouldn’t even re test me…..federal government are just another gang

  2. Jeffery Smith

    Here’s the thing in my situation, I didn’t fail because of Marijuana. I failed because of THC and I’m very sure that if you were to do the research as I did you would come up with the results. I was using CBD which I did not know that it was not processed correctly at the time & still is not. I had to take a SAP program passed everything. I used CBD for neck & shoulder pain yet the medical officials didn’t take any of this into consideration, a failed test is a failed test. I had surgery ( which didn’t help, I don’t suggest it for anyone) got completely off CBD which was helped, similar to a muscle relxer works but no side effects. Done everything that’s required by DOT to be able to keep my driving career as a truck driver, but I have to take random drug test and this is on my clearinghouse report for the next 5 years. Now I stay in pain, but I still have to work . Tylenol only helps so much & its not good for your system either. I believe there needs to a tolerance or a certain level or amounts of TCH that can be allowed in the human body, especially in the case of those who will and should be able to benefit from the THC. I’m not saying we should ALL smoke pot , yet if there’s a way for anyone not to have surgery and still maintain a healthy lifestyle there should be absolutely no problem with having any amounts or a certain amount of THC in your system.

  3. Gator from Decatur

    Regarding the Marijuana testing specifically, I think that the testing program should be examined and amended do to the fact that THCa stays in one’s system up to 30 to 45 days after relaxing one weekend. Should a driver take off work for 30 days before driving again? The effects from use only lasts for about a couple hours that’s the reason why they constantly light up.

  4. Mike in a Truck

    Its not the veteran O/O truckers causing this issue. Weve had to pee in the bottle – like forever it seems. The problem is the low quality rookie drivers- its the same issue the military is facing- scraping the bottom of the barrel gets you the dregs. Some of these guys dont even have the sense to wash thire nasty ass’s let alone go down the road in a straight line.

  5. Schuyler Ambrose

    They need to relax these rules. If you’re not high during your driving shift, what’s the problem? After staying out on the road for 2 months at a time, why can’t I smoke a joint while I’m on my hometime? Weed ain’t no worse than beer

Comments are closed.

John Gallagher

Based in Washington, D.C., John specializes in regulation and legislation affecting all sectors of freight transportation. He has covered rail, trucking and maritime issues since 1993 for a variety of publications based in the U.S. and the U.K. John began business reporting in 1993 at Broadcasting & Cable Magazine. He graduated from Florida State University majoring in English and business.