Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this yr, adding extra provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of growing old population 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 commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so prior to now year and three extra are anticipated to by the end of 2022—extra 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 identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve year 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 functions. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place those substances are legal, they might nonetheless be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal degree.

“Whereas states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the identical as the usage of any other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They can be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva exams being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that can be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At best, they're quickly taken off the highway and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to listing commercial 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 test the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

Lately, extra states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. Based on 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 grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but nonetheless check optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions per week—it could possibly show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several instances every week can check positive for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more steadily can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the current points affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White House, however a rising number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial car drivers should undergo once faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial 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 continue at the present rate, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the availability chain, which means larger costs not just for commodities but the price of living at massive.

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