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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have turn into the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain issues, including a lack of truck drivers to transport items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the 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. Nonetheless, that gained’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. that 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 struggling supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so prior to now 12 months and three extra are anticipated to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial 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% improve year over yr.

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

“Whereas states might permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't recognize any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as using some other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s causing hundreds of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Below laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to beginning a brand new job. They will also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva checks being proposed as nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination under DOT laws. At greatest, they're quickly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to checklist business drivers who fail a drug take a look at in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any earlier violations, which might stop them from being hired.

Lately, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more broadly accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. According to the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 because 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. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but still take a look at positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Centers says for rare marijuana users—which means those that use the substance lower than two times per week—it will possibly show up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several occasions per week can take a look at optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more continuously can “take a look at constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just among the present issues affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., based on a report from the White House, but a rising number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial car drivers must bear as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. In response to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are currently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the current fee, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the availability chain, which suggests higher prices not just for commodities however the price of dwelling at large.

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