Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the road this 12 months, adding extra supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have become the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to move items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of getting old inhabitants 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 business licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so previously yr and three more are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial vehicle drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the same 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 rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off duty in a state the place these substances are authorized, they might still be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal level.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the same as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing 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 tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They will also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination beneath DOT laws. At finest, they are quickly taken off the street and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record commercial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which would forestall them from being hired.

In recent times, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra widely obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, however nonetheless test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana users—which means those that use the substance lower than two instances a week—it may possibly present up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several times every week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more often can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present points affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, however a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations continue at the current price, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which means higher costs not only for commodities but the cost of living at giant.

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