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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American customers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, 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 driving force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of growing old inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout 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 might soon worsen the already suffering provide 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—extra truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business car drivers have examined positive 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 travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state where these substances are legal, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal degree.

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the usage of another illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They will also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are now new saliva exams being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At finest, they are quickly taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to list commercial drivers who fail a drug take a look at 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 industrial driver had any previous violations, which would forestall them from being hired.

In recent years, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly out there and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver might 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 different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless take a look at constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those who use the substance less than two times every week—it could actually present up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions every week can check positive for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more often can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the current issues affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in keeping with 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 undergo once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue at the current price, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which means larger prices not only for commodities however the cost of dwelling at massive.

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