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 previous two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain issues, together with 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 high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting 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. Nonetheless, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already struggling supply chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are legal, they may nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal level.

“While states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not recognize any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as using some other illicit drug.”

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

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They will also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva assessments being proposed as well.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination under DOT rules. At best, they are quickly taken off the highway and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might typically take months.

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

Lately, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively available and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is recommended 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 different jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A commercial driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however still take a look at positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Centers says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those that use the substance lower than two occasions per week—it will probably present up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of instances per week can take a look at optimistic for up to three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more regularly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply among the current issues affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., based on a report from the White House, but a growing variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business car drivers should undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the present rate, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which implies greater costs not only for commodities however the cost of living at large.

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