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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have become the norm for American customers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges inflicting provide chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to move items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of growing old 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 business licenses. Nevertheless, that won’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 growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so in the past year and three extra are expected to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business automobile drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase year over yr.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. However even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off responsibility in a state where 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 degree.

“While states might enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and policy don't recognize any authentic medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for industrial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

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

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

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that can be grounds for termination under DOT regulations. At best, they are briefly taken off the street and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which can typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally 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 additionally required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a industrial driver had any previous violations, which might forestall them from being hired.

Lately, more states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more widely accessible and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In response to the FMCSA, “a driver may not use marijuana even when [it] is really useful by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver could use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, however still test optimistic for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana customers—that means those who use the substance less than two instances every week—it could actually present up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several instances per week can take a look at optimistic for as much as three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more incessantly can “test optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present points affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., according to a report from the White House, but a rising number of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business vehicle drivers must bear once 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 presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue at the present rate, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the supply chain, which implies greater costs not only for commodities however the cost of dwelling at giant.

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