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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have grow to be the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain issues, including a lack of truck drivers to move items 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 due to the growing older inhabitants 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. Nonetheless, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which can 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 leisure marijuana—four of which did so prior to now 12 months and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—more truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial automobile drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place these substances are legal, they might nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal degree.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't acknowledge any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the use of another illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting 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—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Security Administration also 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 through urinalysis, however there are now 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 underneath DOT rules. At best, they're quickly taken off the road and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist commercial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being employed.

Lately, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely obtainable and used. However, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is really useful 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 additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A business driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless check positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Centers says for rare marijuana users—which means those who use the substance less than two occasions per week—it could possibly present up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who uses marijuana a number of times a week can test optimistic for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more incessantly can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply among the current issues affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., according to a report from the White House, but a rising variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial automobile drivers should bear once confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the current price, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which implies larger prices not only for commodities but the cost of dwelling at massive.

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