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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American customers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain issues, including a scarcity of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the growing old population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. However, that gained’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so in the past yr and three more are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial vehicle 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 year over year.

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

“Whereas states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't acknowledge any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial car drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the use of any other illicit drug.”

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

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They can also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical number 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 only one drug check, that can be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At finest, they are quickly taken off the road and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which might generally take months.

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

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more extensively obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s change into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, but nonetheless take a look at constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—meaning those that use the substance lower than two occasions per week—it may present up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several times a week can test positive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more frequently can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just some of the current points affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, however a growing number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial automobile drivers should bear once faced with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the current rate, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which means higher costs not only for commodities however the cost of residing at massive.

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