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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have develop 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 issues, including a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of aging population 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 gained’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so up to now yr and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—more truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business car drivers have tested constructive 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 recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where these substances are authorized, they might still be faced with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal stage.

“Whereas states might permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage don't acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial car drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

Below regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They will also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva assessments being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At greatest, they're briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to list commercial drivers who fail a drug check in 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 industrial driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being employed.

Lately, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra widely obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s change 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 rules.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still take a look at constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those who use the substance less than two times a week—it may show up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of instances a week can test constructive for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more regularly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the present points affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., according to a report from the White House, however a growing variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial automobile drivers should endure as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. In response to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed on the current price, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which suggests larger costs not just for commodities but the price of dwelling at large.

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