Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the road this year, including extra provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain points, together with an absence of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly due to the ageing 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 received’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so previously yr and three more are anticipated to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial vehicle drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve yr over 12 months.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws 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 whereas off responsibility in a state the place these substances are authorized, they could nonetheless be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal stage.

“While states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits using marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the same as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s causing hundreds of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Beneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They will also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that can be grounds for termination below DOT regulations. At best, they're briefly taken off the road and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may sometimes take months.

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

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more broadly obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In keeping with 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 because it’s turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but nonetheless check positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those that use the substance lower than two times per week—it could show up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana a number of occasions a week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more incessantly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the current points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., based on a report from the White House, however a rising number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial vehicle drivers should bear once confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. According to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present price, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which means larger costs not only for commodities however the cost of residing at massive.

Copyright 2022 Stacker via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.