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 prices have grow to be the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, including a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of growing older population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. However, that received’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off duty in a state where these substances are legal, they might nonetheless be faced with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal degree.

“Whereas states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not recognize any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the usage of another 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 laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They can be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva exams being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT laws. At best, they are temporarily taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to record commercial drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are also required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might forestall them from being employed.

In recent times, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely out there and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines 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 become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A commercial driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless take a look at positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Dependancy Centers says for rare marijuana users—which means those that use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it might show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of times a week can take a look at optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more continuously can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just some of the current issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., according to a report from the White House, however a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial automobile drivers should bear once faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the current price, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the supply chain, which means increased prices not just for commodities however the price of residing at massive.

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