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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain issues, including an absence of truck drivers to transport 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 due to the ageing inhabitants 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 economic licenses. However, that received’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so up to now year and three extra are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business 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% enhance 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off responsibility in a state the place those substances are legal, they might nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal degree.

“Whereas states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not recognize any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial car drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as using another illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting 1000's 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 tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They will also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva tests being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT laws. At finest, they're briefly taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which can generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to listing industrial drivers who fail a drug check within 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 commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might forestall them from being employed.

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively obtainable and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In response to 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 because it’s change into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless check optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those that use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it could possibly show up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of instances per week can check positive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more frequently can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just among the current issues affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, however a rising number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial car drivers should undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the current fee, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which means higher costs not only for commodities but the price of residing at large.

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