April 3, 2023
A growing number of commercial truckers driving in Illinois and across the nation are using drugs, per data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The clearinghouse, which keeps track of positive drug tests taken by professional drug tests, showed a notable uptick in the number of commercial truckers testing positive for marijuana and several other substances.
According to Transport Topics, marijuana use, in particular, is skyrocketing among truckers. In fact, the number of drivers testing positive for marijuana rose 32% between 2021 and 2022.
How many truck drivers are using marijuana at work
In 2022, almost 41,000 American truck drivers had their names logged in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse after their drug tests came up positive for marijuana. This made marijuana the most common drug abused by professional truck drivers in the United States, by far. However, data shows that truck drivers also increased their use of amphetamines, methamphetamines and cocaine in 2022 compared with 2023.
How many truck drivers are using other drugs at work
The drug professional truck drivers were most likely to use on the job after marijuana in 2022 was cocaine. Methamphetamines and amphetamines were also abused by truck drivers in 2022. In fact, positive drug tests for marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines accounted for 90% of all positive drug tests logged in the clearinghouse in its three-year history.
When truckers test positive for drugs and have their names listed in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, they may not drive again for a living until they partake in a specific return-to-work” process.
