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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing supply chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to transport items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the aging inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the road by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines throughout the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so in the past yr 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 automobile drivers have examined optimistic 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 laws as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place these substances are authorized, they may still be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy at the federal stage.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage don't acknowledge any legit medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial car drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT laws deal with its use as the identical as using another illicit drug.”

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

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to beginning a new job. They can be examined at random, in addition to 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 number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT laws. At best, they are temporarily taken off the street and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which may typically take months.

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

In recent years, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely accessible and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver may 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 other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing rules.”

A business driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but still test positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Dependancy Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—that means those who use the substance lower than two times every week—it might show up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana a number of times a week can test constructive for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana even more often can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the present issues affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White Home, but a growing number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations proceed at the present charge, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which means greater prices not just for commodities however the price of dwelling at giant.

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