The $81 Billion Problem with Chuck Marting

What if a traumatic childhood experience could become the catalyst for a career saving thousands of lives, not through arrests, but through education and early intervention?

In this episode, Chuck Marting, retired law enforcement officer with 19 years of distinguished service and founder of Colorado Mobile Drug Testing, shares his unexpected journey from almost being kidnapped as a teen in Southern California to becoming one of the nation's leading experts in workplace impairment detection. Through a pivotal moment when an officer took the extra step to check on him that same night, Chuck discovered his calling: if he could do for others what that officer did for him, his life would have meaning.

From earning recognition from Mothers Against Drunk Driving to becoming a certified Drug Recognition Expert to building a mobile drug testing business from his kitchen table 14 years ago, Chuck has transformed how employers protect their teams. His philosophy is revolutionary: shift from "zero tolerance" (reactive, after the fact) to "zero blind spots" (proactive, before tragedy strikes). With workplace impairment costing US businesses $81 billion annually, Chuck's mission has never been more critical.

Chuck reveals the restaurant encounter where a former client thanked him for saving his family, how one trained supervisor caught an employee vaping marijuana in plain sight, and why relationships with his father, his wife of 35 years, and mentors like Jack Canfield have shaped everything he does.

 

[00:04:30] The Origin Story: A Childhood Trauma That Planted a Seed

• As a teen in Southern California, Chuck was grabbed by someone attempting to kidnap him

• Broke free, ran to nearest house, called for help

• Police officer arrested the suspect quickly

[00:06:24] Finding His Gift: Becoming a Drug Recognition Expert

• Got into law enforcement and discovered natural gift for detecting impairment

• Performed so many DUI arrests that Mothers Against Drunk Driving recognized him

• Sent to Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) school, one of law enforcement's hardest certifications

• Equivalent of college semester compressed into two weeks

[00:08:20] The Kitchen Table Beginning: Starting Colorado Mobile Drug Testing

• 14 years ago, arrested someone who was panicking about missing pre-employment drug test

• Answer: "Nobody does that"

• Light bulb moment: started researching, found nobody in Colorado doing mobile drug testing

• Started business at kitchen table with his wife

[00:09:40] The Problem Chuck Solves: Teaching "Zero Blind Spots"

• Saw supervisors missing obvious signs of impairment due to lack of training

• Most employers treat drug testing as afterthought until crisis hits

• Workplace impairment costs: $81 billion/year in US, $4 trillion/year worldwide

• Created training programs that go beyond textbook knowledge

[00:12:20] Colorado's Marijuana Legalization: 21 Years Later

• Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana over 21 years ago

• Even after two decades, many Colorado employers still have no policies or training

• Chuck speaks nationally and trains companies on handling this challenge

• Also coaches supervisors on leadership skills learned from law enforcement

• Active listening, de-escalation, and other cop skills translate directly to business leadership

[00:16:11] Most Impactful Result: The Restaurant Encounter

• Two years ago, took team to Christmas dinner at restaurant in city where he was officer

• Hesitant to go (officers typically avoid areas they policed)

• Chuck's immediate concern: arrested? positive drug test? upset?

• The reveal: "Four weeks ago I lost my job because I had a positive drug test"

[00:26:00] Recent Impact: The Supervisor Who Caught the Vape

• Trained a "designated employer rep" (safety program manager) who became passionate about program

• Client called Chuck: "Something's off with this employee, I need confirmation"

• Supervisor thanked Chuck: "I don't know if I would've ever caught this before"

• This is Chuck's mission: protecting employers, teams, and community

[00:29:20] Why This Work Matters: The 3 AM Calls

• As officer, had to tell families at 2-3 AM their loved one was killed by impaired driver

• "Very difficult situation to have to be in"

• Employers face same situation when workplace accidents occur

• Would do this work even without pay; mission to prevent tragedies

• "I'm only one guy doing the best I can to get it out there"

[00:32:00] Chuck's Business Philosophy

• Runs 24/7 operation and is available anytime because problems don't wait

• "If I get a call at 3 AM, so be it. You might have to give me a couple minutes because it might sound like I need a drug test"

• Doesn't want anyone waiting or feeling like they're inconveniencing him

• Core message: Zero tolerance is reactionary and after the fact

• Zero blind spots is proactive, recognizing issues before tragedy strikes

 

KEY QUOTES

"What made the impact on me was later on that night, that officer came to my home to make sure that I was okay. He took that added time. That made that impression on me. And I remember thinking to myself, if I can do what he just did for somebody else, then I want to do that." - Chuck Marting

"It's hard to read the label when you're inside the bottle." - Chuck Marting

"I'm not gonna be able to take somebody in an hour or two hours of training and turn them into a drug recognition expert, but if they listen to some of the things that I teach them, they're gonna catch those things." - Chuck Marting

"Zero tolerance is reactionary, after the fact. Zero blind spots: recognizing this before something happens, is what we have to focus on." - Chuck Marting

 

CONNECT WITH CHUCK MARTING

🌐 Website: https://www.chuckmarting.com | https://www.masteringtheimpairmentcode.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-marting-aa849660
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuck.marting
🏢 Business Websites: https://www.coloradomobiledrugtesting.com | https://www.focusedcompliancegroup.com
📚 Book: "Mastering the Impairment Code" (Foreword by Jack Canfield) - Available on Amazon

 

Thanks for tuning in!

If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Find me on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify |  iHeart Radio | Stitcher