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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting 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 gained’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off duty in a state where these substances are legal, they could nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal stage.

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't acknowledge any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows using marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the same as the usage of another illicit drug.”

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

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They will also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there are now new saliva assessments being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination below DOT regulations. At finest, they're temporarily taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which may typically take months.

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

Lately, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly out there and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is really useful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s change into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver may use marijuana while 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 street. The American Dependancy Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those that use the substance less than two instances per week—it could present up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several times per week can take a look at constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more incessantly can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present issues affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., based on a report from the White Home, but a growing variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial vehicle drivers must endure as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the present price, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which implies larger prices not only for commodities however the cost of residing at giant.

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