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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have turn into the norm for American customers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move 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 excessive of 80,000, partly because of 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 business licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which might be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so up to now year and three extra are expected to by the top of 2022—more truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial vehicle 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 12 months 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 purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place these substances are legal, they could still be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal degree.

“While states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not recognize any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT regulations treat its use as the same as using some other illicit drug.”

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

Beneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They will also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva assessments being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that can be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At greatest, they are temporarily taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which may generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to listing business drivers who fail a drug take a look at in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which would prevent them from being hired.

Lately, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely obtainable and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. According to 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 because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A business driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still test optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana users—that means those who use the substance less than two occasions every week—it might probably present up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several instances a week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more frequently can “take a look at constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the current points affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in response to a report from the White Home, but a growing number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that commercial car drivers must endure once faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In accordance with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the present charge, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which suggests larger prices not just for commodities however the cost of dwelling at massive.

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