Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this year, adding more provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have become the norm for American customers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain issues, including a lack of truck drivers to move items 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 street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off responsibility in a state where those substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal stage.

“Whereas states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage do not acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the use of another illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting thousands of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT laws. At greatest, they are temporarily taken off the highway and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may sometimes take months.

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

In recent years, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more extensively out there and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is really helpful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, however still test positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those who use the substance lower than two instances every week—it will probably present up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana several occasions per week can take a look at constructive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in line with a report from the White Home, but a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business car drivers must bear once faced with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work at all. In accordance 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 have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present charge, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the supply chain, which suggests increased prices not only for commodities however the cost of residing at giant.

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