Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the highway this year, including more supply chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have develop into the norm for American customers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting supply chain points, including a scarcity of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting old 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. Nevertheless, that received’t have an effect on one other 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 could quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now 12 months and three extra are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have tested positive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business vehicle 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 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are authorized, they may still be confronted with a violation due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal degree.

“Whereas states may enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the identical as the usage of another illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting 1000's 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—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 also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the common variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there at the moment are new saliva assessments being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT laws. At greatest, they are quickly taken off the road and required to finish an evaluation 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 industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being employed.

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly available and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even when [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s grow to be legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A commercial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but still test optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Addiction Centers says for rare marijuana users—meaning those that use the substance less than two times every week—it may show up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana several occasions every week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more steadily can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current issues affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., according to a report from the White House, however a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers should undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. In line with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 business drivers are at present in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue at the current charge, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the availability chain, which implies higher costs not only for commodities but the price of residing at massive.

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