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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have become the norm for American customers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to move items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive 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 commercial licenses. However, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so prior to now year and three extra are anticipated to by the top of 2022—more truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial vehicle drivers have tested positive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance yr over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place those substances are authorized, they might nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not acknowledge any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the same as the usage of another illicit drug.”

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

Below regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They will also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing charge 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 checks being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that can be grounds for termination beneath DOT rules. At finest, they are briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which can typically take months.

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

Lately, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more broadly accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, but nonetheless test 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 who use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it will possibly show up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana several instances every week can take a look at optimistic for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more often can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just some of the present points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, however a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial automobile drivers should endure as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed on the current rate, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which suggests greater costs not just for commodities however the cost of residing at massive.

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