Commercial drivers use cannabis more than any other drug, data shows

Cannabis users seeking a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive trucks and other utility vehicles should seriously weigh the pros and cons of their career prospects. The data shows that professional drivers use cannabis more than any other drug, even if it can ruin their careers.

Commercial drivers these days are more likely to test positive for cannabis than any other drug, according to latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

As you can imagine, the federal drug restrictions on CDL holders are pretty strict. With this in mind, drivers can face severe penalties for failing a drug test.

The latest data shows that 98 percent of all positive drug tests in the first half of 2020 were related to drugs rather than alcohol. Only 892 CDL holders failed drug tests for alcohol. This is likely because alcohol tests can only measure up to six hours of alcohol in the blood, 12-24 hours in the air, or 12-24 hours in the urine, while cannabis can be detected for weeks or months in some cases.

The DOT mandates that drug tests use urine specimens only for typical pre-hire testing. So if you get drunk one day, you can pass it the next. Cannabis, on the other hand, lingers in adipose tissue and can produce a positive result for much longer.

Over half, or 52 percent, of the 40,433 tests tested positive for cannabis, which is currently legal in one form or another in most states.

But the FMCSA doesn’t care about state laws. “The bottom line for CDL holders is that you are not allowed to use marijuana, even though there are states that allow people to use marijuana for recreational purposes,” said Larry Minor, assistant policy administrator at the FMCSA.

Typically, if a CDL holder tests positive for cannabis on the first drug test, they won’t lose their license, but repeated crime is a different story or if it’s a violation. But a failed drug test for cannabis automatically triggers a long re-entry process that is still considered a “career nightmare”. There are stories of drivers who still have their CDL but can’t find work because of a brownie and a stain on their file.

About half of the drug tests that failed occurred during the pre-hire drug test. Another 13,340 failed drug tests were random, and only about 1,700 failed drug tests were found following an accident.

The data generally agree with existing data on drivers. Non-commercial drivers also use cannabis faster.

Even CBD is a problem for commercial drivers

The FMCSA released a clearinghouse update on May 27, reminding drivers of commercial vehicles regulated by the FMCSA to exercise caution when considering whether to even consume hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products should exercise.

JD Supra shares the critical updates CDL drivers should know about:

1. The US DOT requires testing for marijuana, not CBD.
2. The labeling of CBD products is often misleading as the products may contain higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than stated on the product label.
3. The US DOT’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Ordinance, 49 CFR Part 40, does not allow the use of List I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason.
4. Using CBD is not a legitimate medical explanation for a laboratory-confirmed cannabis positive result. Therefore, the Medical Review Officers will review a drug test that was confirmed positive at the appropriate cutoffs, even if an employee claims to have only used one CBD product.
5. Since using CBD products could lead to a positive drug test result, US DOT regulated CDL drivers should be careful when considering whether to use CBD products.

Knowledge is power, especially when you consider the risks of cannabis use when a career is at stake.