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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain issues, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods 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 because of the getting old population 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 business licenses. Nonetheless, that received’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which might be 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 suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so previously yr and three more are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial car drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase year over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off obligation in a state where these substances are authorized, they could nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal level.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not recognize any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the identical as using any other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing thousands of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued provide 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 can also be examined 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 typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva checks being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that can be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At finest, 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 sometimes take months.

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

In recent years, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly obtainable and used. However, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even if [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but nonetheless check optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those that use the substance lower than two times every week—it might probably present up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana several instances every week can check positive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more incessantly can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the current issues affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, however a rising number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial vehicle drivers must endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. In accordance with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the current charge, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the supply chain, which means larger costs not only for commodities however the cost of residing at giant.

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