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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have turn into the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting supply chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to move items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the aging population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that received’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. that are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so up to now year 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 industrial car drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase yr 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 functions. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place these substances are authorized, they might nonetheless be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal degree.

“Whereas states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not recognize any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as using some other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting thousands 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 examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior to beginning a new job. They can also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At greatest, they are briefly taken off the street and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can typically take months.

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

In recent times, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even if [it] is really helpful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s change into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A business driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but nonetheless test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those that use the substance lower than two instances every week—it may possibly present up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana several times every week can test constructive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more incessantly can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the present points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, but a growing variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers should endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In response to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the current price, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which means increased costs not just for commodities but the price of dwelling at large.

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