Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this yr, including extra supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the ageing population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nonetheless, that received’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off duty in a state the place these substances are authorized, they could still be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal degree.

“While states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't recognize any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows using marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the usage of every other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting thousands of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Under laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They will also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva assessments being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At greatest, they are briefly taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which might sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist business drivers who fail a drug check in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any earlier violations, which would stop them from being employed.

Lately, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely obtainable and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but nonetheless check optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana customers—which means those that use the substance less than two instances a week—it might show up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana several instances every week can test constructive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more continuously can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present issues affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in line with a report from the White House, however a growing number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial vehicle drivers must endure once faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In response to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the present fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which means increased costs not just for commodities however the price of dwelling at giant.

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