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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have become the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain points, together with a lack of truck drivers to move goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the ageing 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. Nevertheless, that won’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so prior to now year and three more are expected to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial car drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance 12 months over year.

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. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place these substances are legal, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal stage.

“While states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't acknowledge any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state permits using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the usage of another illicit drug.”

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

Beneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They can be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier 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, but there are now new saliva checks being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT rules. At best, they are temporarily taken off the road and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to listing commercial drivers who fail a drug take a look at in 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 might prevent them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more extensively obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver might 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 as 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 laws.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but still check constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those who use the substance lower than two times every week—it will probably present up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of occasions per week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more incessantly can “check positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply among the present issues affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business vehicle drivers should bear as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In accordance with the FMCSA’s month-to-month 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 current charge, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the supply chain, which implies larger prices not just for commodities however the cost of dwelling at large.

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