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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have turn into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain issues, including 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 scarcity 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 street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so prior to now year and three more are expected to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business automobile drivers have tested constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve 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. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off obligation in a state where those substances are legal, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal stage.

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the identical as the usage of another illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting hundreds of truckers to be removed 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—together with 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 price from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT laws. At best, they're quickly taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at in 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 industrial driver had any earlier violations, which might forestall them from being employed.

In recent times, extra states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however still take a look at positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those who use the substance lower than two times every week—it might show up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of instances per week can take a look at positive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more often can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just some of the present issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, however a growing number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial automobile drivers should endure once confronted 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 business drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed on the present rate, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which means higher costs not only for commodities but the cost of living at giant.

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