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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to transport items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly due to the growing old population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nevertheless, 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 variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off obligation in a state where these substances are legal, they could 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 coverage don't recognize any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the identical as the use of another illicit drug.”

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

Beneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They may also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are now new saliva checks being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At best, they're temporarily taken off the road and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist business drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which would prevent them from being employed.

In recent years, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver might 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 as it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Division 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 test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—which means those that use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it may possibly show up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several occasions a week can take a look at positive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more steadily can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply some of the current points affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in line with a report from the White House, however a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial automobile 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 month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which means larger prices not just for commodities but the price of residing at massive.

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