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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American customers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, including a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of getting old population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off obligation in a state where those substances are authorized, they might still be faced with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal stage.

“Whereas states might allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't recognize any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as the use of every other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They will also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service 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 actually new saliva tests being proposed as properly.

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

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record commercial drivers who fail a drug test in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [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 different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless take a look at optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—meaning those that use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it may well show up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana a number of times a week can take a look at positive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more incessantly can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside 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 process that commercial car drivers must bear once faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In keeping with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the current fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which implies increased prices not only for commodities however the price of dwelling at massive.

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