Since the Clearinghouse opened in January of 2021, 110,856 drivers have tested positive for marijuana. (KLH49/GettyImages)
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
The number of truck drivers testing positive for marijuana use increased 9.2% the first three months of 2023, and a large number of those who failed their tests are not enrolling in the return-to-work program, according to federal Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse data.
As of the end of March — the latest numbers posted in the Clearinghouse — 110,856 drivers have tested positive since the Clearinghouse opened in January of 2021. The number of drivers who tested positive for pot the first three months of this year totaled 9,344.
Through the end of March, 129,100 drivers remain in prohibited status since failing any of the 14 different types of drugs tested by the Department of Transportation. Of that total, 97,833 have not started the return-to-work program. However, a total of 19,413 are currently eligible for retesting.
Truck drivers are prohibited by federal law from using marijuana.
“This is an ongoing topic among ATA’s Controlled Substances, Driver Health & Wellness Subcommittee, and we discussed at length during our May meeting,” said Dan Horvath, vice president for safety…