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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the ageing 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 legal guidelines across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so previously yr 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 industrial car drivers have tested optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance year over year.

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

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the usage of another 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 provide chain disruptions.

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They may also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT rules. At finest, they're quickly taken off the road and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional 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 remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

In recent times, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely accessible and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver may 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 because it’s turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but nonetheless test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—which means those that use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it could possibly present up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana a number of occasions every week can check positive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just some of the present points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., according to a report from the White Home, but a rising number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business car drivers must bear as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work at all. In accordance with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are at present 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 current price, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which means increased costs not just for commodities however the price of residing at giant.

Copyright 2022 Stacker via Grey Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.