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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American shoppers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the getting old inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of economic licenses. Nonetheless, that received’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD while off responsibility in a state where those substances are authorized, they might still be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal degree.

“While states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not acknowledge any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows using marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing hundreds of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Beneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration also upped the random drug testing rate 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 below DOT regulations. At best, they are briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might generally take months.

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

Lately, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra widely available and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, however still take a look at optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those who use the substance less than two occasions per week—it will possibly show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several occasions a week can check optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more continuously can “take a look at constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the present points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in response to a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial car drivers must endure once faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at the moment in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

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

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