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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs 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 inflicting supply chain issues, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to move items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of aging population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t impact one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so up to now year and three extra are expected to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial 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 yr over year.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where these substances are authorized, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“While states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits using marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the same as the use of some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting thousands of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued supply chain disruptions.

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

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that can be grounds for termination below DOT laws. At greatest, they're briefly taken off the highway and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can sometimes take months.

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

Lately, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In keeping with the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, however nonetheless take a look at constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana customers—meaning those that use the substance less than two times every week—it may well present up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several occasions a week can take a look at constructive for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more often can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White House, however a rising variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business vehicle drivers must endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In accordance with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations proceed at the present price, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which means greater costs not only for commodities however the price of dwelling at massive.

Copyright 2022 Stacker via Grey Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.