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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to move items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the ageing 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. Nonetheless, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which might be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place those substances are legal, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior 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 Carrier Security Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are now new saliva exams being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT rules. At best, they're quickly taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist industrial drivers who fail a drug test in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being employed.

In recent times, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, however nonetheless take a look at optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—that means those that use the substance less than two times per week—it might probably show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of times a week can take a look at optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

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

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

If violations continue on the present fee, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the provision chain, which means larger prices not just for commodities but the price of living at giant.

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