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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated prices 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 different challenges causing provide chain issues, including a scarcity of truck drivers to move items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the ageing 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. Nevertheless, that received’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so in the past yr and three more are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial automobile drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve yr 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 functions. However even when 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 coverage at the federal stage.

“While states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as using another illicit drug.”

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

Underneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a brand 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 fee from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT rules. At greatest, they are briefly taken off the highway and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might typically take months.

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

In recent years, extra states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly out there and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. According 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 become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other 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 the place marijuana is authorized, but still check 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 who use the substance lower than two times a week—it could actually present up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several instances every week can take a look at optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more ceaselessly can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just among the present issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, however a growing variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business car drivers must undergo once faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are currently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the present price, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which implies larger costs not only for commodities however the cost of living at massive.

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