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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery retailer cabinets, and inflated costs have grow to be the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing provide chain points, including a lack of truck drivers to move items 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 because of the ageing population 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 economic licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t impact another hurdle: disparate marijuana laws throughout the U.S. that are contributing to a rise in violations. In 2022, a growing variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As more states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so up to now yr and three extra are anticipated to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial vehicle drivers have examined optimistic for marijuana use. By the same 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 laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states allow it for medicinal purposes. However even if a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off obligation in a state the place these substances are legal, they could still be faced with a violation as a result of Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance coverage at the federal degree.

“While states could allow medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't acknowledge any reputable 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 same as the usage 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 supply chain disruptions.

Below regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are tested for drug use—including marijuana—previous to beginning a new job. They may also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Security 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 test, that may be grounds for termination below DOT rules. At greatest, they are quickly taken off the road and required to finish an evaluation with a substance misuse professional who determines their rehabilitation course of, which may generally take months.

As of January 2020, employers are additionally required to record business 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 verify the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being employed.

In recent times, more states have legalized each leisure and medical marijuana, making it more extensively accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use is still prohibited for business truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions apart. In accordance 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 because it’s develop into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and different jurisdictions additionally has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A industrial driver might use marijuana whereas off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless check constructive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the street. The American Dependancy Facilities says for rare marijuana users—that means those who use the substance lower than two occasions a week—it could actually present up of their urine for as much as three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana several instances per week can take a look at optimistic for up to three weeks, and those that use marijuana much more frequently can “check 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 points affecting the availability chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products throughout the U.S., based on a report from the White House, however a rising variety of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty process that business automobile drivers should bear as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work at all. According to the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 business drivers are at present in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed on the present charge, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the supply chain, which implies larger prices not just for commodities but the price of dwelling at massive.

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