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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have become the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing supply chain issues, including a lack of truck drivers to move goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the growing 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 affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which might be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so in the past year and three more are anticipated to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial car drivers have tested positive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve 12 months over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place those substances are legal, they may still be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal degree.

“While states may permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't acknowledge any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as the use of another 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 supply chain disruptions.

Below regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a brand new job. They can be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

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

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to listing commercial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely available and used. However, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is beneficial 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 other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless check constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Centers says for rare marijuana users—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it might show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of times a week can check constructive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more continuously can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present issues affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business car drivers must bear once faced with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present rate, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which implies higher costs not just for commodities but the price of residing at massive.

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