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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American customers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to transport 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 high of 80,000, partly as a result of ageing population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. However, that won’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across 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 could soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so previously year and three more are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business 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% improve yr over yr.

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. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off obligation in a state where these substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal degree.

“While states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage don't recognize any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as the usage of another illicit drug.”

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

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a brand new job. They may also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that can be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At greatest, they are briefly taken off the road and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to listing industrial drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which might stop them from being hired.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more extensively available and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is recommended 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 applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

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

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the current points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in line with a report from the White Home, however a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial car drivers must endure as soon as faced 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 standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the current price, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which suggests larger costs not just for commodities however the cost of dwelling at massive.

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