Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this 12 months, adding more provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, including a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the growing older inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. However, that won’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so previously year and three extra are expected to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial automobile drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase year over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off duty in a state the place these substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“Whereas states might allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as the use of every 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.

Below regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They will also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the typical number 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 nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination under DOT rules. At greatest, they are briefly taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which may generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to listing commercial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which might forestall them from being hired.

Lately, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In response 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 other jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but still take a look at optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Facilities says for rare marijuana users—which means those who use the substance lower than two instances a week—it could possibly show up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several times a week can test optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the present issues affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., based on a report from the White House, however a growing number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers must endure once faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In keeping with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the current charge, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the provision chain, which suggests higher costs not only for commodities however the cost of dwelling at giant.

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