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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated prices have turn out to be the norm for American shoppers over the previous two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing provide chain points, including an absence of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to another. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver shortage had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting older 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. However, that gained’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 variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could soon worsen the already struggling supply chain.

As more states legalize leisure marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now year and three extra are expected to by the end of 2022—extra truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 business vehicle drivers have examined constructive for marijuana use. By the identical time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% enhance year over 12 months.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state laws 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 products like CBD while off responsibility in a state where these substances are authorized, they may still be confronted with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal stage.

“While states may permit medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not acknowledge any official medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as the use of every other illicit drug.”

Stacker looked at what’s inflicting thousands of truckers to be removed from their jobs, and the looming domino effect of the continued provide chain disruptions.

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to beginning a brand new job. They can also be tested at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration additionally upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there are actually new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that may be grounds for termination under DOT laws. At best, they are briefly taken off the street and required to complete 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 list industrial drivers who fail a drug test within the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are additionally required to test the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being hired.

Lately, extra states have legalized both leisure and medical marijuana, making it more extensively out there and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even if [it] is recommended by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even as it’s develop 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 legal, but still check positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Dependancy Centers says for infrequent marijuana customers—which means those who use the substance lower than two instances a week—it can present up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions every week can check optimistic for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana even more continuously can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and items waiting to be unloaded at ports are just a number of the current issues affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., in keeping with a report from the White Home, however a growing variety of industrial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business vehicle drivers must undergo once faced with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work at all. In response to the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 commercial drivers are presently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the current fee, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which suggests increased prices not only for commodities however the cost of residing at large.

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