Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the street this 12 months, adding more provide chain disruptions

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer shelves, and inflated costs have turn into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain issues, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driving force scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly because of the getting older population 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 won’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which can be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which may soon worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so previously yr and three more are expected to by the end of 2022—more truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial car drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve year over year.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state regulations as 19 states have legalized leisure marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state where those substances are authorized, they could nonetheless be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“While states could permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not acknowledge any respectable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the usage of any other illicit drug.”

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

Under rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They will also be examined at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the typical number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug check, that may be grounds for termination underneath DOT regulations. 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 typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to checklist commercial drivers who fail a drug check in 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 industrial driver had any previous violations, which might forestall them from being hired.

In recent times, extra states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it extra broadly accessible and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial 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 become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is legal, but still test constructive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Centers says for rare marijuana customers—meaning those who use the substance less than two times a week—it may well show up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who uses marijuana several times a week can test positive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more steadily can “test constructive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, factory closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the present issues affecting the provision chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of merchandise within the U.S., in accordance with a report from the White House, but a growing number of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that business automobile drivers must bear as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. Based on the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are presently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the present fee, the truck driver shortage will additional disrupt the availability chain, which implies higher costs not just for commodities however the cost of residing at large.

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