Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the road this 12 months, adding extra supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer 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 causing supply chain points, including an absence 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 as a result of getting old 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 economic licenses. Nevertheless, that received’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so up to now year and three more are anticipated to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial automobile drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off obligation in a state where those substances are authorized, they could nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“Whereas states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't acknowledge any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the same as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They can also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly 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 take a look at, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At finest, they are quickly taken off the road and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might typically take months.

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

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is really useful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s change into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but nonetheless test optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Centers says for infrequent marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance lower than two times a week—it might present up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of instances per week can test constructive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more ceaselessly can “take a look at constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the present issues affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in response to a report from the White House, however a rising number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial automobile drivers should bear once 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 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited status 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 scarcity will additional disrupt the availability chain, which suggests higher costs not just for commodities but the price of dwelling at giant.

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