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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, including a scarcity of truck drivers to transport items 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 because of the getting old 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 commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. that are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so in the past year and three extra are anticipated to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business car drivers have examined constructive 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 leisure 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 authorized, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal stage.

“Whereas states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not recognize any legit medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial car drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

Beneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to beginning a brand 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 additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva checks being proposed as effectively.

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

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record 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 verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which would forestall them from being employed.

Lately, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it more broadly obtainable and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver might 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 as it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, however nonetheless check constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana users—meaning those that use the substance lower than two instances every week—it may present up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several occasions per week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the current points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., according to a report from the White Home, but a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial car drivers should undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. In response to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the present charge, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the supply chain, which means increased costs not just for commodities however the cost of residing at large.

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