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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have turn into the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain issues, including a scarcity of truck drivers to move items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the growing old population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. However, that received’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so in the past year and three extra are anticipated to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial car drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance 12 months over 12 months.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off obligation in a state where these substances are legal, they may still be confronted with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“Whereas states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not recognize any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even when a state allows using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as the usage of every other illicit drug.”

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

Below 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 tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are now new saliva tests being proposed as nicely.

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

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to list business drivers who fail a drug take a look at in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which might stop them from being hired.

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra widely available and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however still check positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Centers says for rare marijuana users—which means those that use the substance less than two occasions a week—it could present up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of instances per week can take a look at constructive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more regularly can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just some of the present points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in response to a report from the White Home, but a growing number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers must undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue at the present fee, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the provision chain, which suggests larger costs not only for commodities however the cost of dwelling at large.

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