Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this 12 months, including extra supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain issues, together with an absence of truck drivers to move goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly due to the getting older 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 commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so up to now year and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial car drivers have tested positive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve yr over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off duty in a state where those substances are legal, they might still be confronted with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not recognize any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

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

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At greatest, they're briefly taken off the street and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can typically 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 industrial driver had any previous violations, which would forestall them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more extensively accessible and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even if [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still take a look at constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Centers says for rare marijuana customers—that means those that use the substance less than two occasions every week—it may present up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several occasions every week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more frequently can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the present points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White House, but a rising number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial car drivers should undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the present fee, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which suggests higher prices not only for commodities but the cost of living at massive.

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