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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have change into the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly due to the ageing population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. Nevertheless, that received’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off obligation in a state where those substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal level.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not recognize any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as using any other illicit drug.”

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

Beneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge 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 actually new saliva assessments being proposed as nicely.

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

As of January 2020, employers are also required to listing business drivers who fail a drug test within 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 commercial driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively available and used. However, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver might 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 because it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however still test positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—meaning those that use the substance lower than two instances per week—it could show up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana several instances every week can take a look at optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more frequently can “take a look at constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, but a growing variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business automobile drivers must undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. In accordance with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the present charge, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which suggests increased costs not only for commodities but the price of residing at giant.

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