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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated prices have become the norm for American customers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges causing supply chain issues, together with a lack of truck drivers to transport goods from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the driver scarcity had risen to an all-time high of 80,000, partly as a result of getting older inhabitants and shrinking wages.

In response, the Biden administration vowed in December to get extra truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t affect another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines 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 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 end of 2022—more truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 commercial automobile drivers have examined optimistic 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 regulations as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD while off duty in a state the place those substances are authorized, they might nonetheless be confronted with a violation because of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“Whereas states might permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and coverage do not recognize any legitimate medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for business vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state permits the usage of marijuana, DOT laws treat its use as the identical as using every other illicit drug.”

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

Under regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—together with marijuana—previous to starting a new job. They will also be tested at random, as well as after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Provider Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the common number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, but there are now new saliva tests being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug check, that may be grounds for termination beneath DOT laws. At best, they are temporarily taken off the highway and required to finish an analysis with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation process, which can generally take months.

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

In recent times, extra states have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, making it more extensively available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use remains to be prohibited for industrial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. In line with the FMCSA, “a driver might 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 because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions also has not modified the applying of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless test positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Habit Facilities says for infrequent marijuana users—that means those who use the substance lower than two instances a week—it could actually show up in their urine for up to three days. Someone who makes use of marijuana a number of times every week can test optimistic for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana much more incessantly can “take a look at optimistic for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a few of the current points affecting the provision chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout 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 bear once confronted with a marijuana violation can keep them from returning to work in any respect. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 commercial drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD process. 

If violations continue on the present fee, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which implies larger prices not only for commodities however the cost of residing at massive.

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