Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this yr, adding more provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have become the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain issues, 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 scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly due to the growing older inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. However, that won’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already suffering supply chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so up to now yr and three more are expected to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial automobile drivers have tested constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance year over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal purposes. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off obligation in a state where those substances are legal, they could still be confronted with a violation because of the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage on the federal stage.

“While states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't recognize any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

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

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They will also be examined at random, as well as 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 via urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva checks being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT laws. At greatest, they are temporarily taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which may sometimes take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record business drivers who fail a drug take a look at in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any earlier violations, which would forestall them from being hired.

Lately, more states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it more broadly obtainable and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is really useful 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 other jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still test constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana users—meaning those that use the substance lower than two instances a week—it will possibly show up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several instances every week can take a look at positive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more regularly can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

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

The return-to-duty process that business automobile drivers must undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are currently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the current charge, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the supply chain, which implies greater prices not just for commodities however the price of living at giant.

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