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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with a lack of truck drivers to move items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity 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 extra truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws 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 obligation in a state where these substances are legal, they might still be faced with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal degree.

“Whereas states may permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't recognize any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as using some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing 1000's of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They can be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At finest, they're briefly taken off the road and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record business drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 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 hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively out there and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. According to the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however still test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Centers says for rare marijuana users—meaning those that use the substance lower than two times per week—it could actually present up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of instances per week can take a look at optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more regularly can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current issues affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in line with a report from the White House, however a growing number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business vehicle drivers must endure once faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. According to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are currently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the current charge, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which implies increased prices not only for commodities however the price of residing at large.

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