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 store cabinets, and inflated prices 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 other challenges causing supply chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to transport items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly due to the getting older inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nevertheless, that received’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across 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 could quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so in the past year and three more are expected to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial vehicle drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve 12 months over 12 months.

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

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't recognize any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

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

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that can be grounds for termination beneath DOT rules. At best, they're quickly taken off the road and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record business drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might forestall them from being employed.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more extensively out there and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 as it’s grow to be 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 laws.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still test optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those that use the substance less than two occasions a week—it will possibly show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions every week can check constructive for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more regularly can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just some of the current points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., according to a report from the White House, however a growing variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business automobile drivers must endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. In response to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the present rate, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the provision chain, which suggests larger prices not just for commodities but the cost of living at giant.

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