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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American customers 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 transport items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage 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 more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout 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 might quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so in the past 12 months and three more are expected to by the top of 2022—more truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business 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% improve yr over 12 months.

Truck drivers who journey 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 merchandise like CBD whereas off duty in a state the place those substances are legal, they may still be faced with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal stage.

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

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

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They can be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva checks being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At greatest, they're briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis 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 business drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being employed.

Lately, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but still check optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those who use the substance less than two instances a week—it could show up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of occasions per week can check constructive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more ceaselessly can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in line with a report from the White Home, but a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business automobile drivers must undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at the moment in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the present rate, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the availability chain, which means increased prices not just for commodities however the cost of dwelling at large.

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