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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American customers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, including an absence 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 high of 80,000, partly because of the growing old inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. Nonetheless, that received’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. that are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already suffering supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off duty in a state the place those substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal degree.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the usage of any other illicit drug.”

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

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

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug test, that can be grounds for termination beneath DOT regulations. At best, they are temporarily taken off the street and required to complete an evaluation 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 list commercial drivers who fail a drug check in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being hired.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly available and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division 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 still check positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those who use the substance lower than two occasions per week—it could actually show up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several times a week can test constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more continuously can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply some of the present points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, but a rising number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial vehicle drivers must bear as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. In keeping with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the current fee, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which suggests higher costs not just for commodities however the price of living at giant.

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