Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this year, including extra provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have become the norm for American customers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting supply chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to move items 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 growing older inhabitants 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. However, that received’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

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

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

“While states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage do not recognize any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the identical as using another illicit drug.”

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

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They may also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At best, they are quickly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which can typically 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 test the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

In recent times, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver may 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 turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A business driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but nonetheless check optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those who use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it may show up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several times per week can check constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more steadily can “take a look at constructive 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 provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White House, however a growing variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations continue on the present charge, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which means greater costs not just for commodities however the cost of dwelling at large.

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