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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have turn into the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly due to the growing old 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 commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that received’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so up to now 12 months and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—extra 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% increase 12 months over 12 months.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place those substances are authorized, they could nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal stage.

“Whereas states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't recognize any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as the usage of any other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They can be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that can be grounds for termination beneath DOT regulations. At best, they're briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which can typically take months.

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

Lately, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely available and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver may 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 develop into 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 laws.”

A business driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless take a look at optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana users—that means those that use the substance lower than two times per week—it could possibly show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of instances every week can take a look at optimistic for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more steadily can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the present issues affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, but a rising variety of industrial 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 at all. In accordance with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present rate, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which implies increased prices not just for commodities but the price of living at giant.

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