The influence of marijuana legalization on the trucking sector, notably the latest drop in the number of drivers due to rigorous drug use regulations and testing, is well recognized. Yet, a fresh study from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) delves deeper into this subject.
The study titled, “Impacts of Marijuana Legalization on the Trucking Industry,” examines the newest demographic trends related to cannabis legalization, explores the data and research associated with highway safety and marijuana usage, highlights the employment consequences for the trucking industry, and scrutinizes publicly accessible CDL driver drug test data.
Furthermore, the report investigates the opinions of truck drivers and carriers on marijuana — revealing that a majority of both groups advocate for a revision in the current drug testing protocols — alongside an examination of the marijuana policies affecting drivers, extensive drug testing data, and a detailed inspection of the research concerning marijuana, road safety, and much more.
Driver Deficit and Marijuana Legalization
ATRI published its first research paper addressing the effect of marijuana legalization on the trucking industry back in 2019. With numerous new jurisdictions that have since either legalized or decriminalized marijuana, ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee voted the previous year to undertake a new study to revisit this subject.
In order to operate heavy trucks, drivers need to hold a commercial driver’s license. In the trucking sector specifically, current federal legislation necessitates that those with commercial licenses refrain from using marijuana or face termination. The report and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration state that more than half of all positive drug tests within the trucking industry are due to marijuana metabolites.
If a driver tests positive, they are removed from the sector until they have fulfilled a set of recovery actions. Data from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse indicates that more than 100,000 drivers tested positive and were consequently removed from duty between 2020 and 2022.
“With a nationwide driver shortage ranging from 65,000 to 80,000 in recent times, these positive tests affect the industry,” the study states.
The study observes that the federal prohibition “has been underlined as a potential deterrent for drivers remaining in the sector, and some even suggest that relaxing the marijuana usage restrictions would render the sector more appealing and broaden the potential workforce.”
Important Observations on Marijuana Perceptions in the Trucking Industry
The comprehensive 61-page report is brimming with data on marijuana and trucking, including stats on the rise of truckers residing in states where recreational marijuana is legal between 2019 and 2023 (18.5% versus 41.1% respectively), recent research on marijuana-related road safety, federal requirements in the industry, a review of the last ten years of drug testing data, and more.
Highlights include survey findings around driver and carrier views on marijuana. A majority of carriers (56.3%) indicated that they would consider hiring a driver with a prior positive marijuana test, although more than half (54.8%) of that group noted that a certain duration would need to elapse first. The most frequently mentioned time frame was five years (37%).
A majority of carriers (60.1%) also reported that there had been a noticeable increase in positive pre-employment tests or walk-outs over the past five years. Of those who noticed an increase, nearly half (45.5%) did not identify a specific age group as more likely to test positive. Otherwise, the age group most commonly identified was 26-35 years old (27.6%).
Most carriers (62%) said that changes in federal drug testing policy are needed and that a marijuana impairment test should replace a marijuana usage test (65.4%). While carriers largely acknowledged the current model is flawed, most (40.9%) were still “extremely concerned” about impaired driving as a consequence of marijuana legalization.
Most drivers (55.4%) believed that highway safety has not been compromised by legalized marijuana use, and 65% stated that a marijuana impairment test should supersede a marijuana usage test.
The driver survey also included a text box, where drivers could provide any concluding remarks surrounding recreational marijuana. The majority of comments were split between those advocating for a relaxation of marijuana testing and laws (72.4%) and comments supporting the current state of affairs (27.6%).
The Way Ahead
The report suggests two potential courses of action that the federal government could take with regard to marijuana, both of which pose challenges for the trucking industry.
If the federal prohibition is maintained, “the trucking industry will continue to lose thousands of drivers annually due to prohibited status and will see others leaving for jobs that do not conduct marijuana testing,” the report mentioned. ATRI suggests that firms could continue to uphold zero-tolerance policies and maintaining the status quo could aid in resolving conflicts arising from contrasting state and federal policies.
The report also states, “Any move toward federal legalization would probably alleviate the pressure on the industry’s driver shortage.”
“The main objective of industry drug testing efforts is highway safety. The current strategy supports safety initiatives, but also causes inefficiencies when drivers who do not pose a safety risk are removed from the sector,” it mentions, adding that the trucking industry must take several steps to ensure safety and absence of impairment before any federal efforts to legalize marijuana come to fruition.
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