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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices 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 provide chain issues, including a lack of truck drivers to move goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive 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 commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

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

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place these substances are legal, they might nonetheless be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal stage.

“Whereas states might allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any reputable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the same as the use of some other illicit drug.”

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

Beneath laws set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—prior to beginning a brand new job. They will also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as properly.

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

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist commercial drivers who fail a drug check within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations stay searchable for five years. Potential employers are also required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

In recent years, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more broadly accessible and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver could 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 as it’s turn out 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 laws.”

A business driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is legal, however still take a look at constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the highway. The American Dependancy Centers says for rare marijuana customers—meaning those who use the substance less than two instances every week—it could possibly show up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several occasions every week can test optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more frequently can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just some of the current issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that commercial car drivers should bear as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. In keeping with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at the moment in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue on the present charge, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which means increased prices not only for commodities however the price of residing at giant.

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