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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing supply chain points, including a lack of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the getting older 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 commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across 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 might quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off responsibility in a state the place these substances are authorized, they might nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal degree.

“Whereas states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as using another illicit drug.”

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

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety 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 through urinalysis, however there are now new saliva tests being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that can be grounds for termination beneath DOT rules. At finest, they're briefly taken off the street and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which can generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to list industrial 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 test the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which would prevent them from being hired.

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more extensively available and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In accordance 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 turn out to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, but nonetheless check positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it might present up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of times a week can take a look at optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more incessantly can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the current points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in response to a report from the White House, but a growing variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers should endure as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work at all. Based on the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue at the current fee, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which suggests increased prices not just for commodities but the price of residing at massive.

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