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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have develop into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with a lack of truck drivers to move 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 high of 80,000, partly due to the growing 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. Nevertheless, that gained’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so prior to now 12 months and three more are expected to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business automobile drivers have tested optimistic for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase 12 months over yr.

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

“Whereas states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage don't acknowledge any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the identical as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They can be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing rate 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 nicely.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination below DOT laws. At finest, they're temporarily taken off the road and required to finish an evaluation 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 business drivers who fail a drug test in 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 commercial driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being employed.

In recent times, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, however still test optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—meaning those who use the substance lower than two times per week—it can show up of their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana several occasions per week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more ceaselessly can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the present issues affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in response to a report from the White Home, but a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business automobile drivers must bear as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the present rate, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the availability chain, which implies increased prices not only for commodities however the price of residing at giant.

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