Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this 12 months, including more supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have turn into 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, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly due to the getting old population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so in the past year and three extra 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 optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance year over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off obligation in a state the place those substances are legal, they may still be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal stage.

“While states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't recognize any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as using every other illicit drug.”

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

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They can also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are now new saliva assessments being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination under DOT laws. At best, they're temporarily taken off the street and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which might typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist commercial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which would stop them from being employed.

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more broadly accessible and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In line with 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 turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still take a look at optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those who use the substance less than two times every week—it will possibly present up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana several occasions a week can take a look at constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more regularly can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply some of the present points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., based on a report from the White House, but a rising number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial vehicle drivers should undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. According to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the present rate, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the availability chain, which suggests higher costs not just for commodities but the price of living at giant.

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