Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this 12 months, including extra provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have develop into the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain issues, including a lack of truck drivers to transport items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the growing older inhabitants 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 commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that received’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so up to now yr and three extra are expected to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business 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% enhance 12 months over year.

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. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off duty in a state where those substances are legal, they might still be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal level.

“Whereas states might permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't recognize any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the same as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing 1000's of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Below rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They may also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva assessments being proposed as properly.

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

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

In recent years, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly out there and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. 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 as it’s turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but nonetheless take a look at positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—that means those who use the substance less than two instances per week—it may show up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of occasions a week can take a look at positive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more incessantly can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

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

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

If violations proceed on the present rate, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which suggests increased costs not only for commodities however the cost of living at massive.

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