Comments By Zen Joker

On the heels of Brett's golden comments, I'd like to add that everyone here whether they can internally admit or not is guilty if not of bad deeds, habits, actions or at least bad thoughts and judgments. Not an excuse for hurting kids, lying about your age or medical history, committing felonies, being combative with dispatchers or other negative behaviors detailed in this thread.

Being just shy of my first year solo being complete while being blessed with my faith, family, and a network of friends within my company (both newer and tenured/top performing drivers) to keep me going out here, I can still see how people's minds can bend being alone out here and not be at their best. Let's give EVERYONE the benefit of the doubt and realize we are all flawed. There is so much value in here despite anyone's skeletons in the closet. Some of the best advice you can get in here may be from someone you may not "morally agree with".

While everyone feels the need to comment (me included), I feel like this thread needs to to start fading into the background so we can get back to the website's core mission of helping new drivers get their career of the ground and helping experienced drivers continue to advance their careers. Otherwise posts like this can snowball into a p*ssing pendulum similar to a family argument at the the Thanksgiving Dinner table. Just my 2 cents. Be safe all!

Awesome work young lady!!! Here's to the next safe million miles!!

Another snowflake **hole that blames the world for his bad decisions. The forum just made the roads safer.

Perhaps it's good that he gets in the industry and fails permanently in short order. We are still grossly over capacity and the last thing the industry needs is one more body in the seat. I too am a big fan of Darwin.

That's the direction I'm leaning towards, too.

He got ****ed off at it and sent me a bunch of emails cussing me out. Banned him.

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Perhaps it's good that he gets in the industry and fails permanently in short order. We are still grossly over capacity and the last thing the industry needs is one more body in the seat. I too am a big fan of Darwin.

That's the direction I'm leaning towards, too.

2 cities everyone should visit 😆

Some carriers will send a female trainee with a male trainer and every night they need to shut down at a truck stop this is near a hotel/motel where the trainee spends the 10 hour reset.

The particular Freightliner they gave you has a 15 liter Detroit. Your mind will be blow first time through the mountains. Stay safe brother!

Hello and welcome,

Due to the never ending influx of “Hey man, I smoke weed and I need a trucking job, how do I pass a drug test?” posts that happen in here on a very regular basis, here is a blanket reply that cuts right to the chase…

THE GOLDEN RULE OF MARIJUANA, TRUCKING, and DRUG TESTS is to wait 12 months from last use before applying for a trucking job for (2) reasons. First, it will guaranty that any THC compounds and/or cannabanoids will be thoroughly purged from your system regardless of your health, body mass, and how much you previously used. Second, you will have proven to yourself, and the trucking industry that you are in full control of yourself and are a “past user” versus an addict. Users can walk away and stay away. Addicts are dependent on the THC and cannot quit without professional intervention or alternate therapies. The problem is so many chronic “dependent” users think they can cope without it moving forward and relapse. If you relapse, reset the 12 month clock.

FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN BOTHER BECOMING A TRUCK DRIVER:

- 70% of first year drivers (the majority of which don’t use drugs) wash out and quit due to the stress, job demands, and social isolation.

-Tractor/trailer combos are nearly 70 feet long and can weigh 40 tons and can potentially injure or kill scores of people if the driver is impaired by controlled substances. Loss of limb or life and multi-million dollar losses to carriers and/or their insurance companies are not uncommon in severe trucking accidents. Think about that.

-You can and will be tested at random intervals and can face strict penalties if you test positive.

-Do you honestly believe that you will avoid using literally 100% of the time (including your time off)? That is what is will take to even stand a chance at making a go of this.

-Trucking is the 7th most dangerous job in America, has the 4th highest suicide rate of any occupation, and is always near the top for divorce rate. Do you have the mental constitution to ignore stress and make quick and correct decisions in an emergency WITHOUT having your mind numbed by drugs? An average sober person does not. Ponder that for a minute as it’s a huge question “Can I manage extreme stress while sober for the long haul?”

FREQUENT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT TRUCKING AND MARIJUANA:

“Anyone can get a trucking job, it’s easy and there is high demand”

-Ridiculously incorrect. On the contrary there are very few that actually CAN do this job. It is stressful, demanding, requires a 12-14 hour workdays with a constantly changing schedule and altered sleep patterns.

“I can still use on my time off as long as I am sober for duty”

-Wrong. THC has lasting effects which impairs your short term memory, ability to focus, cognitive function, and motivation. These are all CRITICAL characteristics of a good driver. And NO, how strong and cool you think you are does not matter...it applies to everyone equally .

“If I fail a drug test, I deserve a second chance!”

- If you failed a DOT drug test your career is most likely over already. YOU made a choice to use and YOU are responsible for this outcome. The purpose of the test is to keep unsafe drivers off the road. You will now likely need to find another career field (preferably non-OSHA).

“Drug addicts can’t be discriminated!”

-Back to reality, yes they can and they will be with no legal recourse (even though there are attorneys who know this but will gladly take your money to make you feel better). Your ability to earn an income does NOT supersede Federal Regulations for Motor Carriers which are designed to protect the general public. Every day people are turned away due to failing a DOT physical for a variety of reasons: high blood pressure, uncontrollable diabetes, etc. You are in the same league as them...physically unfit to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

IN CLOSING:

This may not be what you wanted to hear but perhaps what you needed to hear. Trucking is brutally stressful and demanding lifestyle change. Frankly, if you can’t face and handle stress and react quickly under pressure and have any severe emotional problems, then you likely have a 99% chance of failure. Not trying to be harsh, but most people with mental health and/or chemical dependency issues will have a nearly impossible uphill battle in this field.

I myself am a prior marijuana user myself who has permanently quit prior to trucking. You can do it too! Please come back if/when you are clean for 12 months and there will be an abundance of support to get your career off to a great start! If you cannot stay clean, then there is no shame, in fact there is great respect if you will do the right thing and scratch trucking off of your list of options and find a career better suited to your situation. I pray that you will find not only employment soon, but also greater peace and fulfillment in your life.

Thanks for sharing your tips for a good night of sleep.

For the white noise, where did you get the download? I've seen ads for these types of things, and the one time I decided to try and download it it came with a fee. Do you know of any free ones?

I'm interested in seeing how effective it is at canceling noise, but it's not something I need so badly as to pay for.

Hey James,

That is an enormous thing you would do by realizing what is best for your cat and putting him in a different home. That is a completely selfless and loving act that will undoubtedly come back to you, tenfold, and some other area of life.

To expand on old schools, suggestion of becoming an a nomadic truck, driver, with only expense being cell phones you’re going to rack up a ton of income over time. If you don’t want to save up and settle down and buy a house, you could take some of your money and fund charities for children in foreign countries that are starving or need shelter, education, etc., animal rights groups, or whatever is close to your heart.

You can enjoy the open road and have a tremendous impact in the lives of many people, and or animals depending on where your charitable dollars would go.

Something to consider best of luck, and success to you, sir. 🙏