Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the road this yr, adding extra supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have become the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain issues, including a lack of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of ageing 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 economic licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which are 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 struggling provide chain.

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

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 responsibility in a state where these substances are legal, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal level.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage do not acknowledge any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the identical as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

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

Under laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They may also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that can be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At best, they are temporarily taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which might typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to record business drivers who fail a drug test in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being employed.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely out there and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, but nonetheless check positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—which means those that use the substance less than two instances every week—it might show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of times every week can test constructive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more incessantly can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the current points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., according to a report from the White House, however a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial vehicle drivers should undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the present fee, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which means greater costs not just for commodities however the price of living at massive.

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