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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have grow to be the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain points, together with an absence of truck drivers to move items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of aging inhabitants 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 economic licenses. Nonetheless, that received’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. that 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—4 of which did so up to now year and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial vehicle drivers have tested optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase yr over yr.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off responsibility in a state where these substances are legal, they might still be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal degree.

“Whereas states might permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the same as using some other illicit drug.”

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

Under laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning 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 additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT regulations. At greatest, they're briefly 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 also required to record commercial drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. According 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 as it’s change into 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 business driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless check optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—meaning those that use the substance less than two occasions a week—it may possibly present up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana a number of times every week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, but a rising number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial vehicle drivers should bear as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the current price, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which means increased costs not only for commodities however the cost of residing at massive.

Copyright 2022 Stacker by way of Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.