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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain issues, together with 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 shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of growing old population 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 economic licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now year and three extra are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business 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% enhance 12 months over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws 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 merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state the place these substances are authorized, they might nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal stage.

“While states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage don't acknowledge any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the same as using 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.

Below laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They may also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that can be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At greatest, they are quickly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which may generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to checklist industrial drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which would forestall them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more extensively available and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even if [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however still check constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—meaning those that use the substance less than two instances a week—it could present up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several instances a week can take a look at optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more incessantly can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present points affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., based on a report from the White Home, but a rising number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial automobile drivers must endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the present fee, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which means greater costs not only for commodities however the cost of dwelling at massive.

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