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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have develop into the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain issues, 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 shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the growing older 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 won’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be 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 extra states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now yr and three extra are expected to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial vehicle drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve yr over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are legal, they could still be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal degree.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not recognize any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even when a state allows using marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the use of another illicit drug.”

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

Beneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly 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 take a look at, that can be grounds for termination below DOT laws. At finest, they're temporarily taken off the street and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might typically take months.

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

In recent years, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely out there and used. However, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is really useful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s change into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, however still test positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Centers says for rare marijuana users—which means those who use the substance less than two instances every week—it could present up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana several times per week can take a look at optimistic for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more continuously can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just among the current points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in response to a report from the White Home, however a growing number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial automobile drivers should endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the current rate, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which means greater costs not just for commodities however the price of living at giant.

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