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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have become the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain points, including a scarcity of truck drivers to transport 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 high of 80,000, partly due to the 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 economic licenses. However, that gained’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so up to now 12 months and three more are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business vehicle drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance yr over 12 months.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off duty in a state the place those substances are authorized, they might still be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal degree.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits using marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as using any other illicit drug.”

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

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested 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 Provider Security Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are now new saliva checks being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination below DOT regulations. At best, they're quickly taken off the highway and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which might sometimes take months.

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

Lately, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is recommended 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 also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but nonetheless take a look at 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 users—which means those that use the substance lower than two instances per week—it may present up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana several instances every week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more incessantly can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current issues affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, but a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business car drivers must undergo once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In response to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue at the present price, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which means increased costs not only for commodities but the price of residing at large.

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