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


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Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this year, adding more provide chain disruptions
2022-05-23 14:35:17
#Marijuana #violations #truck #drivers #road #year #adding #provide #chain #disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply 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 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 received’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off obligation in a state where those substances are authorized, they may still be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal degree.

“While states may permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not recognize any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as using every other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting thousands of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Truck drivers are being examined more and the implications for drug-related violations have increased

Below laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a brand new job. They can be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are now new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At greatest, they're temporarily taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to list industrial drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being employed.

Differing marijuana laws by state are causing confusion amongst truck drivers

In recent years, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely available and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A business driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but still test optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those who use the substance less than two times per week—it could present up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of instances every week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more steadily can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Truck drivers with violations tend to not return, including to the shortage and supply chain woes

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

The return-to-duty process that commercial car drivers should undergo once confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are at the moment in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the current rate, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the availability chain, which suggests higher costs not only for commodities but the price of living at large.

Copyright 2022 Stacker by way of Grey Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.


Quelle: www.kplctv.com

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