Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this yr, adding more supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have turn into the norm for American customers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the aging inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that won’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so in the past yr and three more are expected to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial vehicle drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off obligation in a state where those substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal level.

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even when a state allows using marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

Below laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They may also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration also upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are now new saliva tests being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT regulations. At greatest, they are briefly taken off the road and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which may typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to list commercial drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are also required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being hired.

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra widely out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is really useful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Centers says for rare marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it could actually show up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of occasions per week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more steadily can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the present points affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, however a rising number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial automobile drivers must bear once confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the provision chain, which implies higher costs not just for commodities however the price of residing at massive.

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