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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply 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 driver scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of aging 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. Nevertheless, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which might be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so in the past year and three extra are expected to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial automobile drivers have tested constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place those substances are authorized, they may still be confronted with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal level.

“Whereas states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not recognize any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as the use of another illicit drug.”

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

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a brand 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 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 via urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At best, they are quickly taken off the highway and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record business drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which would prevent them from being hired.

Lately, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more extensively available and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even if [it] is really helpful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s grow to be 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 laws.”

A commercial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however still take a look at constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—meaning those that use the substance less than two times per week—it could possibly show up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of times every week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more often can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the current issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in response to a report from the White Home, however a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial automobile drivers should endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at the moment in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the present fee, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which means increased prices not only for commodities however the price of living at large.

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