Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the road this 12 months, adding more supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American customers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with an absence of truck drivers to move items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly due to the getting older inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout 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 suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so previously yr and three more are expected to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business 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% improve yr over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state where these substances are legal, they may still be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal degree.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the use of some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing 1000's of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They can be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are now new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

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

As of January 2020, employers are also required to record industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at in 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 earlier violations, which would prevent them from being employed.

In recent years, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more extensively out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but nonetheless check positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those that use the substance less than two instances a week—it might present up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana several occasions a week can take a look at constructive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more incessantly can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply among the current points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., according to a report from the White House, but a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations proceed at the present fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the supply chain, which implies higher prices not only for commodities but the cost of living at large.

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