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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain points, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the ageing inhabitants 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. However, that gained’t have an effect on another 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 provide chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are authorized, they might nonetheless be confronted with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal stage.

“Whereas states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage don't acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the same as using another illicit drug.”

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

Beneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They may also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are now new saliva checks being proposed as well.

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

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

In recent times, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [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 out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still take a look at optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Centers says for rare marijuana customers—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. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of instances every week can test constructive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more steadily can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in line with a report from the White Home, however a growing variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial vehicle drivers must undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In response to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the present fee, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which means increased costs not only for commodities but the cost of residing at large.

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