Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this year, adding extra provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain points, together with an absence of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly as a result of getting older population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

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

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

“Whereas states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage don't acknowledge any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows using marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the same as the use of every other illicit drug.”

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

Below regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They may also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration also upped the random drug testing price from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use by way of urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva checks being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At greatest, they are quickly taken off the road and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which might sometimes take months.

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

In recent years, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely obtainable and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. According to the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is really helpful 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 other jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, but still check constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana users—which means those who use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it will possibly present up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several instances a week can check constructive for as much as three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more often can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just among the present points affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise throughout the U.S., in line with a report from the White House, but a growing variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial vehicle drivers must endure once confronted with a marijuana violation can hold them from returning to work in any respect. According to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently 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 current price, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which implies increased prices not just for commodities however the price of living at massive.

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