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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain issues, together with an absence 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 high of 80,000, partly as a result of 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 economic licenses. However, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place these substances are legal, they might still be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal level.

“While states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't recognize any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even when a state allows using marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the same as using some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing hundreds of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They can also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also 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, but there are now new saliva tests being proposed as well.

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

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

In recent times, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it more extensively available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver may 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 grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but nonetheless take a look at positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it might probably show up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of times every week can test optimistic for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more often can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just some of the present issues affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in response to a report from the White Home, but a rising number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers should undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In line with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed on the current charge, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which means greater prices not only for commodities however the cost of residing at giant.

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