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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain issues, including a scarcity of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the getting older population 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. However, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state the place these substances are legal, they may still be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

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

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

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They can be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva exams being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination under DOT rules. At finest, they are briefly taken off the street and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to checklist industrial drivers who fail a drug check in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which might stop them from being hired.

In recent years, extra states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even if [it] is advisable 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 other jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however still test optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Habit Centers says for rare marijuana users—which means those that use the substance less than two occasions a week—it could possibly show up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of instances a week can check optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more often can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just among the present issues affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in line with a report from the White House, but a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial vehicle drivers should undergo once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present charge, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the provision chain, which means increased costs not only for commodities however the cost of residing at giant.

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