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

(Stacker) - Delayed packages, naked grocery store cabinets, and inflated costs have change into the norm for American consumers over the past two years. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has been the catalyst, there are different challenges causing supply chain issues, together with a lack 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 aging 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 business licenses. Nevertheless, that gained’t affect one other hurdle: disparate marijuana laws across the U.S. which might be contributing to an increase in violations. In 2022, a rising number of truckers are being taken off the job, which might quickly worsen the already suffering provide chain.

As extra states legalize recreational marijuana—four of which did so previously yr and three extra are expected to by the top of 2022—extra truck drivers have tested positive 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% improve 12 months over 12 months.

Truck drivers who travel cross-country face inconsistent state laws as 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 37 states permit it for medicinal functions. But even when a driver used marijuana or hemp-based merchandise like CBD whereas off duty in a state the place these substances are legal, they could still be confronted with a violation due to the Division of Transportation’s (DOT) zero-tolerance policy on the federal level.

“Whereas states might permit medical use of marijuana, federal laws and policy don't acknowledge any reliable medical use of marijuana,” a DOT handbook for commercial automobile drivers reads. “Even when a state permits the use of marijuana, DOT rules deal with its use as the identical as the usage of some other illicit drug.”

Stacker checked out what’s inflicting 1000's of truckers to be removed 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 starting a brand new job. They may also be examined at random, in addition to after accidents. In January 2020, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Security Administration also upped the random drug testing rate from 25% of the average variety of driver positions to 50%. Truck drivers are primarily screened for drug use via urinalysis, however there are now new saliva assessments being proposed as effectively.

At worst, if a driver fails only one drug take a look at, that can be grounds for termination below DOT regulations. At best, they're temporarily taken off the street and required to complete an analysis with a substance misuse skilled who determines their rehabilitation process, which might typically take months.

As of January 2020, employers are also required to checklist commercial drivers who fail a drug check in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. These violations remain searchable for five years. Potential employers are additionally required to verify the Clearinghouse to see if a commercial driver had any earlier violations, which would stop them from being employed.

Lately, extra states have legalized each recreational and medical marijuana, making it more widely available and used. Nevertheless, marijuana use continues to be prohibited for business truck drivers, state legal guidelines and medical prescriptions aside. In accordance with the FMCSA, “a driver might not use marijuana even if [it] is beneficial by a licensed medical practitioner.” The DOT has maintained its zero-tolerance stance for marijuana use even because it’s change into legalized, saying, “Legalization of marijuana use by States and other jurisdictions also has not modified the appliance of U.S. Division of Transportation drug testing regulations.”

A business driver may use marijuana while off-duty, not driving, and in a state where marijuana is authorized, however nonetheless take a look at positive for the substance for up to a month later and be taken off the road. The American Addiction Centers says for infrequent marijuana customers—meaning those who use the substance less than two times per week—it could actually present up of their urine for up to three days. Somebody who makes use of marijuana a number of occasions per week can check positive for up to three weeks, and those who use marijuana even more often can “take a look at positive for a month or longer.”

Shortages, manufacturing facility closures, and goods waiting to be unloaded at ports are simply a number of the present points affecting the supply chain throughout America. Trucking transports 72% of products within the U.S., based on 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 commercial automobile drivers should undergo once faced with a marijuana violation can preserve them from returning to work at all. In line with the FMCSA’s monthly report, 89,650 industrial drivers are currently in prohibited status as of April 1, 2022, however 67,368 of them haven't begun the RTD course of. 

If violations continue at the present price, the truck driver scarcity will further disrupt the provision chain, which means larger costs not just for commodities but the cost of living at massive.

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