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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing supply chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the aging population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nonetheless, that received’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which might be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now yr and three more are expected to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial car drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase yr over yr.

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

“While states might allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the same as the usage of another illicit drug.”

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

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They can also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are now new saliva checks being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At best, they're temporarily taken off the road and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to listing commercial drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are also required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which might stop them from being employed.

In recent times, extra states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is advisable 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 additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A commercial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless check optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—meaning those who use the substance lower than two instances per week—it could possibly present up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana several instances per week can take a look at positive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more ceaselessly can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the present issues affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White House, but a rising number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial vehicle drivers should endure as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at the moment 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 current rate, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the availability chain, which means greater prices not just for commodities but the cost of residing at giant.

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