DOT Drug Testing: Urinalysis Or Hair Follicle?

On the list of companies that follicle test, how about including how far back the company checks?

For example, I was thinking about applying to Knight but a driver on here informed me they test 6 months back & I just can't wait that long. It would be helpful to have that info up front.

I'm not sure if that information is even made public or not.

I'm not sure if that information is even made public or not.

I'm not sure if that information is even made public or not.

I understand, but doesn't the rest of this info about testing come from the word of drivers here on the forum?

I'm not sure if that information is even made public or not.

I understand, but doesn't the rest of this info about testing come from the word of drivers here on the forum?

Yes indeed it does. But I'm not sure the company will even tell you how far back the test goes. And there's nothing stopping them from making a phone call and telling the lab to go back further with certain people if they wanted to. So I'm a bit concerned about putting a time limit that people can count on. I'd hate for someone to think they've waited long enough when they haven't. That doesn't just put a little kink in your career. That can be the end of it for quite some time.

I know your recruiter sometimes will volunteer the information. I know I didn't ask about it, my recruiter as Schneider told me either 90 days or six months. I can't remember now. I had to take two of them. When was in June, the results were fine obviously but they are only good for 30 days and my wife had a baby so I needed to wait. That was done on the head. My second one was a leg shave as my head hair was to short unless I was ok with bald patches. The whole point of the test is go back further to see if you are a liar, and if it was habitual. Then they will also throw random tests in.

Driving a truck takes extreme focus, stress control, and an ability to adapt quickly. The general public, company, and driver will be safer to check in this way. People go in it sometimes as just a job to do, how hard can it be... It is so much more than just driving as I have learned to appreciate. It is definitely a skilled trade.

The whole point of the test is go back further to see if you are a liar, and if it was habitual. Then they will also throw random tests in.

I'm fine with random tests. Hell, I prefer them. I'm cleaning up. Would the recruiter want to know that?

The whole point of the test is go back further to see if you are a liar, and if it was habitual. Then they will also throw random tests in.

I'm fine with random tests. Hell, I prefer them. I'm cleaning up. Would the recruiter want to know that?

I mean, for the sake of honesty... just in case I test dirty even after being clean for the proper amount of time. It's happened before.

This may not be the right forum for this, but it's related to the topic, so I thought I'd go ahead and give it a whirl.

About 2 1/2 years ago I tested positive for marijuana on a non-DOT pre-employment drug test. When I arrived at the trucking company to begin my training, the security officer made a group announcement that such test results would come back on the background check, so we were advised to divulge the information. I struggled with the decision of whether or not to say anything. On the one hand, I needed and wanted the job badly, but on the other, I didn't want to risk waiting until I was obligated to repay the cost of training if they discovered it. To make a long story short, I told them about the test and was booted from training.

I decided to change my habits for health reasons, and now I'm completely clean and sober. I would be happy to provide the hair follicle sample if I can find a company that would train me given my prior test result. The company guy told me that there is a 7 year DOT-mandated waiting period following a positive test result, but then I've heard conflicting time frames from recruiters at other companies who have told me this is a company-by-company policy, so I'm not sure what information is correct. If anyone knows the answer, I would appreciate it. Also, does anyone know of any of the companies that train that would take me on given my history? Thanks!

To make a long story short, I told them about the test and was booted from training.

Thanks for the feedback. It's what I needed to hear. Moral of the story: Find out how far back they test & be clean for longer than that. And keep my mouth shut about cleaning up. My past issues are my business alone as long as I keep them in the past.