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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain issues, 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 motive force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of growing older 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 economic licenses. However, that received’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four 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 industrial car drivers have tested constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve year over yr.

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. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are legal, they could nonetheless be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“While states might permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't recognize any legit medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s causing 1000's of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Underneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a new job. They may also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are now new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

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

As of January 2020, employers are also required to listing industrial 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 earlier violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

Lately, extra states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra widely obtainable and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even if [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s turn into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, however still check optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it will probably present up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions a week can take a look at constructive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more steadily can “check constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current issues affecting the supply chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, but a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations proceed at the present fee, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which suggests increased costs not only for commodities but the cost of dwelling at giant.

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