Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this 12 months, including more supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have grow to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain issues, together with an absence of truck drivers to transport goods 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 excessive of 80,000, partly because of the growing old inhabitants 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 business licenses. Nonetheless, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off obligation in a state the place those substances are legal, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal stage.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state permits using marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the usage of another illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s causing thousands 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 examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous 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 Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination under DOT laws. At greatest, they're temporarily taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to record business drivers who fail a drug take a look at in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any earlier violations, which would forestall them from being employed.

In recent years, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but nonetheless test constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those that use the substance less than two occasions a week—it might show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions a week can check optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more continuously can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the present issues affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., according to a report from the White Home, but a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations proceed on the current price, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which suggests increased prices not only for commodities but the cost of living at massive.

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