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

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

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so in the past 12 months and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial automobile drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are legal, they might nonetheless be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't recognize any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They can be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva assessments being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT laws. At best, they are quickly taken off the road and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to listing industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being hired.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely available and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, but still check optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those that use the substance lower than two times per week—it will probably show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several times per week can test constructive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just among the current points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., according to a report from the White Home, but a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business vehicle drivers must bear as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In response to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the present price, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the availability chain, which suggests increased prices not just for commodities but the price of living at large.

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