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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American customers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing supply chain points, including a scarcity 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 population 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 won’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. that are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so in the past 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 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 year over yr.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are authorized, they could still be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal level.

“Whereas states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not recognize any legit medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial car drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the same as using any other illicit drug.”

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

Beneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva assessments being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT rules. At best, they are briefly taken off the highway and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to list commercial drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being employed.

In recent times, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even if [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, but still test positive for the substance for as much as 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 times every week—it might probably present up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several instances a week can check constructive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more steadily can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just among the current points affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., according to a report from the White House, however a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial automobile drivers must endure as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at the moment in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

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

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