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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have become the norm for American customers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting supply chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of growing old inhabitants 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 economic licenses. Nonetheless, that received’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which 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 more states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so previously year and three extra are anticipated to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial car drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase 12 months over 12 months.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off responsibility 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 coverage on the federal level.

“Whereas states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't acknowledge any legit medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a new job. They will 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 price from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there are now new saliva checks being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. At best, they are briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which might sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to checklist commercial drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which might stop them from being employed.

Lately, extra states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. According to the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance 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 authorized, however still test optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Centers says for rare marijuana users—meaning those that use the substance less than two times a week—it will probably present up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several times every week can take a look at positive for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more steadily can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

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

The return-to-duty process that business automobile drivers should undergo once faced with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. Based on the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue at the present fee, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the availability chain, which implies larger prices not only for commodities however the price of residing at large.

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