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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated prices 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 other challenges causing provide chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to transport items from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly due to the aging population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of business licenses. However, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. which can be 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 extra states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so up to now year and three extra are expected to by the tip of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business vehicle drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase yr 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. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off duty in a state where these substances are legal, they might still be faced with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal degree.

“Whereas states may allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy do not acknowledge any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT rules treat its use as the identical as using some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be faraway from their jobs, and the looming domino impact of the continued supply chain disruptions.

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—prior to starting a brand new job. They may also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug test, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT laws. At finest, they're temporarily taken off the road and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record business drivers who fail a drug take a look at in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to check the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being employed.

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver may 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 into 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 industrial driver could use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless take a look at optimistic for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana users—which means those that use the substance lower than two occasions every week—it might probably present up in their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several times per week can check constructive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more incessantly can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current issues affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise inside the U.S., in response to a report from the White House, but a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

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

If violations continue at the present rate, the truck driver scarcity will additional disrupt the provision chain, which suggests larger prices not just for commodities but the price of living at large.

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