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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have become the norm for American customers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain issues, including an absence of truck drivers to move items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting old population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now yr and three extra 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 vehicle 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 recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state the place those substances are authorized, they could still be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal level.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't recognize any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as using any other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average variety 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 properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT rules. At greatest, they're quickly taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to list commercial drivers who fail a drug test 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 industrial driver had any earlier violations, which might stop them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively obtainable and used. However, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In line with 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 grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however still take a look at constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance less than two instances a week—it might probably present up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of instances per week can test constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more continuously can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present issues affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in line with a report from the White House, but a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial automobile drivers must endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. According to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the current rate, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which suggests larger costs not just for commodities however the price of living at massive.

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