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🚨Hold your Pipes: Weed Executive Order Has No Changes for Truckers

If you’re a truck driver that was thinking President Trump’s recent marijuana executive order will allow drivers to partake in recreational or medicinal marijuana, I have some bad news in this edition of Tale Lites.

Despite a week of headlines, some buzz on social media, and even me talking about it on Sirius XM RoadDog, the order does not legalize marijuana, and it does not change federal drug testing rules for CDL holders, and Marijuana use, including medical marijuana, is still strictly prohibited under federal law.

What the Executive Order Does

The executive order directs federal agencies to move marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

It’s a significant political benchmark, but operationally for truckers, it changes nothing.

The president was explicit:
The order does not legalize marijuana in any form and does not authorize recreational use.

What it does do is open the door for:

• Expanded medical research

• Potential future medical use frameworks

• Different tax treatment for dispensaries

Why Reclassification Doesn’t Matter for Drivers

Going beyond the headlines, federal trucking regulations prohibit marijuana by name, not by schedule.

According to the FMCSA, marijuana remains prohibited under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations regardless of how it’s classified.

DOT drug testing rules are:

That language doesn’t change just because marijuana moves to Schedule III.

As long as marijuana appears on that list, any use makes a driver medically unqualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle.

Medical Marijuana Still Doesn’t Count

Even if marijuana eventually becomes widely prescribed at the federal level, it still wouldn’t automatically be allowed for truck drivers.

FMCSA does not recognize medical marijuana as a valid prescription for CDL holders, the same way it won’t recognize other prescription medications like Xanax, certain muscle relaxers, or opioids,

State laws don’t override federal DOT regulations, and they never have.

So What Actually Changes?

• Dispensaries may benefit from tax relief

• Medical research may expand

• Policy discussions may evolve

For truck drivers?
Nothing changes, not today anyways

What Would Have to Happen for Marijuana to Be Allowed?

Before any CDL holder could legally use marijuana, the Department of Transportation would need to go through a formal rule making process to remove it from prohibited substances, and I think we all know how slow the government works when it comes to rulemaking.

Eric Long, manager of OOIDA’s drug and alcohol testing program, sums it up by saying:

Tale Lites Take

Ignore the hype, and the viral tiktok videos, if it were to allow truckers to use marijuana the buzz would have been even bigger. I do firmly believe that alcohol remains a more dangerous drug than marijuana, and given the evidence of evolving medical research there are proven health benefits to the use of marijuana versus alcohol which provides zero health or nutritional benefits. Either way, I always will advocate for sobriety as I think the benefits of sobriety outweigh any and all substances.

What are your thoughts? For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

Tale Lites Throwback

Take a Trip back to 1967 where the Maintenance team for Lombard gets a shoutout. With the holiday approaching make sure to thank your favorite mechanic for keeping you rolling!

🚦 Six Indicted in Louisiana CDL Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors have indicted six individuals in Louisiana for allegedly selling commercial driver’s licenses to people without required testing, training, or qualifications.

This case is one of the latest examples of federal and state agencies moving aggressively against CDL fraud, and it definitely shows why enforcement pressure on states and licensing programs is intensifying nationwide.

According to a 25 page federal indictment filed in August, the scheme ran from August 2020 through February 2024 and involved:

• Two former Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) employees

• A local restaurant owner acting as a middleman

• Three third party testers tied to skills testing and entry level driver training

Prosecutors allege the group solicited and accepted bribes to issue CDLs and commercial learner’s permits to individuals who never completed required training or testing.

How the Scheme Was Executed

The nuts and bolts of this are the best part. The indictment outlines a step by step fraud operation designed to bypass every safeguard in the CDL process.

According to federal authorities, the conspirators:

• Created fake CDL skills test score sheets showing passing results

• Entered false information into federal and state testing databases

• Completed knowledge exams on behalf of applicants

• Falsely reported that applicants completed entry level driver training

Cash for CDLs

At the center of the scheme was Mahmoud Alhattab, a local restaurant owner accused of collecting payments from individuals seeking illegal CDLs.

In one example cited in the indictment, an applicant allegedly paid $6,500 in cash in December 2023 to begin the process of fraudulently obtaining a CDL.

Prosecutors say Alhattab then passed applicant information to two OMV employees, Jenay Davis and Shakira Millien, who allegedly completed knowledge tests and issued commercial learner’s permits. Portions of the cash payments were allegedly kicked back to the employees.

Third Party Testing Fraud

To bypass training and skills testing requirements, prosecutors allege Alhattab bribed:

• Christopher Bryan Burns

• Jonathan Parsons

Both men operated a third party testing business and driver training program. They are accused of falsely reporting that applicants completed ELDT and passed CDL skills tests.

Parsons is also accused of paying Marline Roberts, a skills test examiner, to create fake score sheets to support the false test results.

Text messages included in the indictment allegedly show promises of $400 payments for falsely reporting passed skills tests.

Charges and Penalties

All six defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

Additional charges include:

• Honest services wire fraud

• Bribery involving programs receiving federal funds

If convicted:

• Wire fraud charges carry up to 20 years in prison

• Bribery charges carry up to 10 years per count

Court proceedings are scheduled to continue into 2026.

Unfortunately, prosecutors did not disclose how many CDLs were issued through the scheme, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to provide additional figures beyond the indictment. This is information that not just motor carriers deserve to know, but the general public as well.

Why it Matters

Whether you read Tale Lites, or have been following this issue closely, this case isn’t isolated, it’s part of the broader crackdown on CDL fraud happening nationwide

For the industry, the implications are serious:

• Fraud schemes erode trust in the CDL system

• Legitimate drivers face increased scrutiny and audits

• States face federal pressure to review past license issuances

• Carriers absorb the risk when licensing systems fail

Cases like this are one reason federal regulators are tightening oversight and revisiting previously issued CDLs. It’s cases like this why states like Texas have downgraded CDLs.

📩 What are your thoughts on this?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444 

🩺 Health Tip of the Week: How Drivers Can Improve Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is one of the most common, and most dangerous, health issues facing truck drivers. I had sleep apnea at one point, but losing 100lb and following some of these tricks below has gotten me off of a CPAP Machine. Sleep apnea doesn’t just affect sleep, it impacts alertness, reaction time, blood pressure, heart health, and your DOT medical certification.

1. Don’t Skip the CPAP - Consistency is Key

If you’ve been prescribed a CPAP, using it every night should be non-negotiable. Even missing one or two nights can bring back symptoms like fatigue and brain fog.

Tip: Keep your machine set up before you park for the night so it’s not “optional” when you’re tired. Plan to win

2. Lose Even a Small Amount of Weight

You don’t need a massive transformation. Losing 5–10% of body weight can significantly reduce airway obstruction and apnea severity.

Focus on:

• Higher protein intake

• Fewer heavy meals eaten later

• Consistent movement during breaks

Small changes compound!

3. Avoid Alcohol and Heavy Meals Before Bed

Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, making airway collapse more likely. Heavy meals increase reflux and breathing disruption.

Cutoff rule:
No alcohol, and limit large meals within 3 hours of sleep.

4. Sleep on Your Side When Possible

Sleeping flat on your back worsens apnea by allowing the tongue and soft tissue to fall backward.

If you’re in your sleeper:

• Use a pillow behind your back to stay on your side

• Slightly elevate your head

Simple positioning can reduce apnea events.

5. Improve Nasal Breathing

Congestion makes apnea worse.

• Saline spray before bed

• Nasal strips

• Keeping the cab air clean and humidified

6. Build a Wind Down Routine (See last week’s health tip!)

Stress and poor sleep habits worsen apnea severity.

A simple nightly routine helps:

• 5–10 minutes of light stretching

• Dim lights

• No phone scrolling right before bed

Partner Post of the Week

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