Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this 12 months, including more supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American customers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing supply chain points, together with an absence of truck drivers to move 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 high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting older population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety 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 prior to now 12 months and three extra are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business car drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance yr over 12 months.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules 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 products like CBD while off duty in a state where these substances are legal, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“Whereas states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as the use of another illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s causing 1000's of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Below rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to beginning a new job. They can be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At finest, they are briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to listing business drivers who fail a drug check in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which would forestall them from being hired.

In recent years, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely obtainable and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is really helpful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless test positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance lower than two times per week—it may show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of instances every week can take a look at positive for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just among the current points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in response to a report from the White House, but a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial automobile drivers should bear once confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are currently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the current charge, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which implies larger costs not just for commodities however the price of living at massive.

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