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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have grow to be the norm for American consumers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport items 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 due to the growing old inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. However, that gained’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so in the past year and three extra are expected to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial automobile drivers have tested constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase year over yr.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off obligation in a state where those substances are authorized, they may still be faced with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal level.

“While states might allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy do not acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

Beneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They can be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are now new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that can be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At finest, they are briefly taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at in 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 commercial driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

Lately, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly out there 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 may not use marijuana even when [it] is beneficial 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 application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however still test positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance lower than two times a week—it may show up in their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several times a week can take a look at positive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more continuously can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply among the present issues affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., based on a report from the White House, however a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial vehicle drivers should undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s monthly 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 process. 

If violations proceed on the present price, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the provision chain, which suggests larger prices not only for commodities however the price of residing at massive.

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