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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American customers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other 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 motive force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the getting 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. However, that won’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which might be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now 12 months and three more are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial car drivers have tested optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance year over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off responsibility in a state where these substances are legal, they may still be faced with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal stage.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't recognize any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows using marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the same as using any other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Beneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva checks being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination under DOT laws. At finest, they are quickly taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may typically take months.

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

In recent times, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as 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 rules.”

A business driver may 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 rare marijuana users—that means those that use the substance less than two occasions a week—it could present up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several occasions a week can take a look at constructive for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more continuously can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply among the present points affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in line with a report from the White Home, however a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial vehicle drivers must undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In accordance with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the current fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the supply chain, which suggests greater prices not only for commodities however the cost of living at massive.

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