Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this year, including extra provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain points, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the aging population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. However, that won’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so prior to now 12 months and three extra are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial car drivers have tested constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase 12 months over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place those substances are legal, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal degree.

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the identical as using some other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a brand new job. They may also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are now new saliva exams being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT laws. At finest, they are temporarily taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to list industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might forestall them from being employed.

In recent years, extra states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is really useful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, however nonetheless check constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance less than two occasions a week—it may possibly present up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of occasions per week can check constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more often can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just some of the current points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, but a rising number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial car drivers should undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the current fee, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which implies increased prices not just for commodities but the price of residing at large.

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