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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, bare grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have turn out to be the norm for American customers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to move goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time excessive of 80,000, partly because of the growing old population and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the street by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that won’t have an effect on one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a growing number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might soon worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize leisure marijuana—four of which did so previously 12 months and three extra are expected to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have examined constructive for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business automobile drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% increase year over year.

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

“Whereas states might allow medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not recognize any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the use of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the same as using any other illicit drug.”

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

Beneath rules set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They may also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration also upped the random drug testing fee from 25% of the typical variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, but there are actually new saliva exams being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At best, they are quickly taken off the highway and required to complete an evaluation with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation course of, which might generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to checklist industrial drivers who fail a drug take a look at within 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 commercial driver had any previous violations, which might prevent them from being hired.

In recent times, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively available and used. However, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. According to the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is advisable by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s become legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the application of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing laws.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however still take a look at positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the road. The American Habit Facilities says for rare marijuana users—that means those that use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it may possibly show up in their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who uses marijuana several times every week can take a look at constructive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more incessantly can “check optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are just a few of the present issues affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in line with a report from the White Home, however a rising variety of business drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that industrial car drivers must undergo as soon as faced with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work at all. In accordance with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are at the moment 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 current fee, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the availability chain, which means larger costs not just for commodities but the cost of living at large.

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