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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store shelves, and inflated costs have become the norm for American consumers over the past two years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are other challenges inflicting supply chain points, together with a scarcity of truck drivers to transport items from one place to a different. In late 2021, the American Trucking Associations reported that the motive force 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 more truck drivers on the highway by boosting recruitment efforts and expediting the issuing of commercial licenses. Nonetheless, that won’t have an effect on another hurdle: disparate marijuana legal guidelines across the U.S. that are contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising variety of truckers are being taken off the job, which could quickly worsen the already struggling provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—4 of which did so prior to now year and three extra are anticipated to by the tip of 2022—more truck drivers have examined optimistic for the substance. As of April 1, 2022, 10,276 industrial car drivers have examined positive for marijuana use. By the same time in 2021, there had been 7,750 violations. That’s a 32.6% improve 12 months over year.

Truck drivers who journey cross-country face inconsistent state rules 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 products like CBD whereas off responsibility in a state the place these substances are legal, they could nonetheless be faced with a violation as a result of Department of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal degree.

“While states could enable medical use of marijuana, federal legal guidelines and coverage do not recognize any professional medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial vehicle drivers reads. “Even if a state allows the usage of marijuana, DOT regulations deal with its use as the identical as using some 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.

Underneath regulations set forth by the DOT, truck drivers are examined for drug use—including marijuana—previous to starting a brand new job. They can also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Service Safety Administration additionally upped the random drug testing charge from 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are mainly screened for drug use through urinalysis, however there at the moment are new saliva exams being proposed as properly.

At worst, if a driver fails just one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination underneath DOT rules. At finest, they're quickly taken off the highway and required to finish 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 listing industrial drivers who fail a drug check in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for 5 years. Potential employers are also required to examine the Clearinghouse to see if a business driver had any previous violations, which would stop them from being employed.

Lately, more states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it extra extensively accessible and used. Nonetheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for commercial truck drivers, state laws and medical prescriptions aside. Based on the FMCSA, “a driver could not use marijuana even when [it] is beneficial 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 other jurisdictions additionally has not modified the applying of U.S. Department of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver might use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state the place marijuana is authorized, but still check positive for the substance for as much as a month later and be taken off the street. The American Addiction Centers says for infrequent marijuana customers—that means those that use the substance lower than two times per week—it will probably show up of their urine for as much as three days. Someone who uses marijuana several times every week can test constructive for as much as three weeks, and people who use marijuana much more frequently can “test positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing unit closures, and items ready to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the current points affecting the availability chain across America. Trucking transports 72% of products inside the U.S., according to a report from the White House, but a growing number of commercial drivers are sidelined for marijuana use.

The return-to-duty course of that industrial automobile drivers must undergo as soon as confronted with a marijuana violation can maintain them from returning to work in any respect. In accordance with the FMCSA’s month-to-month report, 89,650 industrial drivers are currently in prohibited standing as of April 1, 2022, but 67,368 of them have not begun the RTD process. 

If violations proceed at the present price, the truck driver shortage will further disrupt the provision chain, which suggests higher prices not only for commodities but the price of living at massive.

Copyright 2022 Stacker by way of Grey Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.