Profile For Mad_Dog

Hello to all. New member here. I have been reading some threads and it seems like y'all are both knowledgeable and helpful. Anyways, here's my story:

I just got my CDL class A last month. Back in August 2020 before I decided to go to school, I had been driving a box truck (non-CDL obviously) but I was between jobs. I got a call from a staffing service with an offer of employment driving non-CDL. They said all I had to do was pass a urine test and the job was mine. Long story short, I failed the test and didn't get the job. But for some reason I got put on the drug and alcohol clearinghouse. The FMCSA said it was because I had a CDL permit at the time. I got my CDL permit on my own before I started school to get a jump start. I think that if I did not have my permit at the time and only my regular drivers license, then I still wouldn't have got the job, but I wouldn't have been put on the clearinghouse either. So much for trying to get a head start.

It doesn't matter if anyone believes this next part, but the truth is that aside from this one screwup, I have an absolutely clean DMV record. A couple of speeding tickets maybe, but that was over 20 years ago. No DUIs or accidents or anything like that. And I have zero criminal record. Not bragging, but I'm saying it because I think it adds to the understanding of my story. Yes, I alone am responsible for failing the drug test. Anyway, I found an SAP the very next day after I was told by this staffing service that I was put on the clearinghouse. I met with him and he said his opinion was that I made a one-time mistake that he was sure was an isolated incident that was unlikely to be repeated. So he had me attend a few meetings, which I happily did, and he wrote me a letter stating that, in his opinion, I am definitely employable pending a clean drug test with no risk.

So here's my three questions:

1) Is it true that one can be put on the Drug and Alcohol clearinghouse with only a CDL permit and never having worked a CDL job? I mean it happened to me but I want to make sure this is on the level.

2) How is it that a major OTR carrier told me that they would never ever hire me with a drug violation when I'm supposedly off the clearinghouse entirely after 5 years if I stay clean? Is there some way they can find out about me after 5 years?

3) Can anyone provide a list of any known companies that will take a chance and hire someone like me? I searched online and found second chance companies for felonies, but I found no second chance companies for drugs/alcohol.

Sorry for rambling. Thanks in advance for and help/advice.