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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer shelves, and inflated prices have develop into the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with a lack of truck drivers to move goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting older inhabitants and shrinking wages.

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

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so up to now 12 months and three more are anticipated to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial automobile drivers have tested constructive 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 rules as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place these substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal level.

“Whereas states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows using marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the use of any other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Below rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They can also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are now new saliva assessments being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that can be grounds for termination below DOT laws. At best, they are quickly taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which can sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to list business drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which might stop them from being employed.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. According to 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 because it’s grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, however nonetheless take a look at constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those who use the substance less than two instances per week—it could possibly present up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several instances per week can check optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more regularly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply some of the current points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in line with a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial vehicle drivers must undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at the moment in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the present rate, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which suggests higher costs not just for commodities but the price of living at large.

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