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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated prices have grow to be the norm for American customers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting supply chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to move goods 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 excessive of 80,000, partly due to the growing older 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. However, that gained’t have an effect on another 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 supply chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now year and three more are anticipated to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial car drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase yr over 12 months.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations 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 obligation in a state where these substances are authorized, they could nonetheless be faced with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal level.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not recognize any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business car drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the same as using another 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—including marijuana—prior to starting a new job. They may also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva checks being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination under DOT rules. At finest, they're quickly taken off the road and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which might sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to listing business drivers who fail a drug check in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which would forestall them from being hired.

In recent years, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly accessible and used. However, marijuana use continues to be 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 advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however still take a look at constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—meaning those who use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it will possibly show up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several times per week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more continuously can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply some of the present points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in accordance with 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 vehicle drivers should bear as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work at all. In keeping with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at the moment in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the current price, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the supply chain, which suggests greater costs not only for commodities but the price of living at massive.

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