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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American customers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly due to the getting older inhabitants 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 business licenses. However, that won’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so up to now yr and three more are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business automobile drivers have tested positive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase yr over yr.

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 merchandise like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place these substances are legal, they could still be confronted with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal stage.

“While states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't recognize any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s causing 1000's of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Beneath regulations 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, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that may be grounds for termination below DOT regulations. At greatest, they are quickly taken off the street and required to finish 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 listing business drivers who fail a drug test in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which might stop them from being hired.

Lately, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively accessible and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is really helpful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, but nonetheless take a look at optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—meaning those who use the substance less than two occasions per week—it may well show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several instances a week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more frequently can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the present issues affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in response to a report from the White House, but a rising number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial car drivers should undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In response to 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 course of. 

If violations proceed on the current rate, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which implies greater costs not only for commodities but the cost of residing at giant.

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