Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this yr, adding extra provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American customers over the past two years. Whereas 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 a different. 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 growing 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 have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines 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 could quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off obligation in a state the place those substances are legal, they might nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal level.

“While states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage do not acknowledge any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the identical as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

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

Below regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They may also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are now new saliva tests being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that may be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At best, they are briefly taken off the highway and required to complete 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 checklist industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which might forestall them from being employed.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly available and used. However, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even if [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance 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 authorized, however still take a look at positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Centers says for rare marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance less than two occasions a week—it may well present up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of times every week can check constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more ceaselessly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the present points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business automobile drivers should undergo once confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work at all. According to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the provision chain, which implies larger prices not only for commodities however the cost of residing at massive.

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