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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have become the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, including a scarcity of truck drivers to transport items 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 road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. that are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so in the past 12 months and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—more truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial vehicle drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve year over 12 months.

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. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place those substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal degree.

“While states might allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't recognize any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the same as the use of any other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued supply chain disruptions.

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

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT laws. At finest, they are quickly taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist business drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might forestall them from being employed.

In recent years, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely accessible and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, however nonetheless test positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana users—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it could possibly show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several times per week can check positive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more steadily can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just among the current points affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., according to a report from the White House, but a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial vehicle drivers must endure as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the current charge, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the availability chain, which suggests higher prices not just for commodities however the price of residing at large.

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