Clearinghouse Database Reveals High Number of Truck Drivers Testing Positive for Drugs

 Posted on July 12, 2022 in Truck Accidents

The United States has struggled with a drug epidemic for decades. According to national statistics, almost 500,000 people died from opioid overdoses – both prescription and illicit – between 1999 to 2019. Millions of people continue to struggle with an addiction that not only impacts their personal lives but their professional lives, as well. One industry where this has been a significant problem is the trucking industry. Many truck drivers are operating their vehicles under the influence of drugs, putting everyone on the roads with them in danger.

Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the government agency that regulates the trucking industry. In an effort to combat the number of drivers who are using drugs and/or alcohol, the FMSCA created the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a secure online database that provides information about drug and alcohol violations for all commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learners permit (CLP) holders. The clearinghouse is accessible for truck industry employers, state departments of motor vehicles, and law enforcement agencies.

One of the critical pieces of information the database provides is data on failed drug and alcohol tests. This is one way that trucking companies can find out if a potential new employee has failed testing in the past. Since January 2020, there have been more than four million inquiries to the database.

Current Statistics

Each month, the clearinghouse releases updated statistics on the data it has collected. In the most current report released, From January 2020 through April 1, 2022, there are 119,113 truck drivers who have tested positive for drugs or alcohol at least once. Currently, there are 89,650 CDL holders in prohibited status because of failed drug testing.

Of those positive tests, 82 percent were for drug violations. The drug that shows up the most in positive tests is marijuana, responsible for 70,872 positive results. And while recreational marijuana is legal in many states now, it is still illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis.

The percentage of other drugs in truck driver positive drug tests include:

• Cocaine – Showing up in 19,401 drug tests

• Methamphetamine – Showing up in 11,731 drug tests

• Amphetamine – Showing up in 11,275 drug tests

• Oxymorphone – Showing up in 3,007 drug tests

• Oxycodone – Showing up in 2,435 drug tests

• Hydrocodone – Showing up in 2,398 drug tests

• Hydromorphone – Showing up in 2,159 drug tests

Unfortunately, the numbers of positive tests do not appear to be decreasing. In the first three months of 2022, more than 16,000 truck drivers tested positive for drugs or alcohol.

Call a North Shore Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, you need a skilled Glenview, IL truck accident attorney. These types of accident cases are often more complex due to the potential of multiple parties who may be liable for damages. Call Gruzmark Law, Ltd. today at 847-729-7660 to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help.

Sources:

https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/Resource/Index/monthly-report-Mar2022

https://clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov/About

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html