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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting supply chain issues, together with an absence of truck drivers to transport 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 due to the growing old inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that won’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so up to now 12 months and three extra are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial automobile drivers have tested positive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve 12 months over 12 months.

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

“Whereas states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits using marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the identical as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are now new saliva checks being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At greatest, they're quickly taken off the highway and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to list industrial drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might stop them from being employed.

In recent times, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly available and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even if [it] is really helpful 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 additionally has not modified the application 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 legal, but nonetheless take a look at optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those who use the substance lower than two occasions per week—it might show up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions every week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more steadily can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current issues affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, however a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial automobile drivers must undergo once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are currently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the present price, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the availability chain, which means higher prices not only for commodities but the cost of living at large.

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