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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated prices have change into the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods 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 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 street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so previously yr and three extra are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial car 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 journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state the place those substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“Whereas states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

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

Under laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination below DOT regulations. At greatest, they're temporarily taken off the road and required to complete an analysis 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 listing industrial drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any earlier violations, which would stop them from being employed.

Lately, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In keeping 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 change 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 commercial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless test positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Facilities says for rare marijuana users—that means those that use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it might probably present up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several times per week can test positive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more continuously can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current issues 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 rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business car drivers should bear once confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. In keeping with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are currently 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 present price, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the supply chain, which means higher prices not only for commodities but the price of dwelling at massive.

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