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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain issues, 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 driving 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 more truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. However, that won’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now 12 months and three more are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial vehicle 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 yr over 12 months.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules 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 merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state where these substances are authorized, they may still be faced with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“While states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't recognize any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows using marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the same as the usage of every other illicit drug.”

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

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They can be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via 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 beneath DOT rules. At greatest, they're briefly taken off the street and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which might typically take months.

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

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even if [it] is really useful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s change into 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 rules.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those who use the substance less than two occasions per week—it might probably show up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several instances every week can take a look at positive for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more continuously can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations continue at the present rate, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the provision chain, which implies higher costs not just for commodities however the cost of living at large.

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