Despite more people beginning to indulge in cannabis based products, there are still those companies that have continued to test for it. As such, many cannabis-using truckers may be unwilling to work behind the wheel if they’re subject to testing. However, despite many companies ceasing their drug testing both because of cannabis’s slowly changing legality and the flaws of the tests, there is a clearinghouse causing difficulties for them. This clearinghouse, also known as the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, was set up by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This clearinghouse, more than anything, may be resulting in the growing shortage of drivers getting worse.

Description

The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse was designed to keep track of past drug use involving drivers. The purpose was preventing those fired for drug offenses from leaving one company and going to another. As already mentioned, it may have caused the already noticeable shortage of drivers to grow even larger. The FMCSA gathered data and found that most of the truckers who failed the tests in 2020 and 2021 were for marijuana first and foremost. 42,534 made up those that failed from marijuana use. The second and third place involved the use of cocaine (11,297) and meth (7,371).

Impact

The reason this clearinghouse is so problematic is more than just the driver shortage. As a result of this shortage, there is also a shortage of goods in some areas. It could also result in higher gasoline prices because there are fewer drivers to transport more gas supplies to areas.

Additionally, cannabis use is more popular among the younger generations than the older. As such, the study argues that the rule also makes it less likely for younger people to consider occupations as truck drivers.

Problems

The main problem with cannabis use is that it can stay in a person’s system for about a month. Granted this depends on a number of certain factors. So, some of the people failing these tests may have used it in the past and were not currently under the influence.  Supporters of the clearinghouse do believe in checking the past drug uses of drivers. However, some believe that it is only current use of cannabis that should disqualify them. Even in that case, the supporters believe that it should only be those under the influence while on the job that should be disqualified in the same way as alcohol use.

Hopefully, this issue gets settled quickly before the shortages get even worse. While many feel that companies shouldn’t test for THC, the more moderate approach seems to be finding a way to check for intoxication. For now, we would need to wait and see if lawmakers decide to take these facts into consideration about potential changes.

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