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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, including an absence 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 due to the getting older population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which might be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so in the past yr and three extra are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial car drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve yr over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off duty in a state the place those substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal stage.

“Whereas states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the same as using some other 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 provide chain disruptions.

Under laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They may also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as nicely.

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

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

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In response to 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 develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still test optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those that use the substance less than two instances every week—it might show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions per week can take a look at constructive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “take a look at constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, but a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers should endure as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. In keeping with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the present charge, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which suggests larger prices not just for commodities but the cost of residing at massive.

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