Comments By John D.

Well-I'm sorry I lost you guys so quickly but I still appreciate the post. Thanks

What company was that? If you don't mind me asking (Hoping like a fool that maybe my company is too cheap to do that)

I don't think it matters. Hope is not a strategy.

I was hoping someone would come on her and give me a fool proof plan on how to beat the system but I know that's just a pipe dream

Beat the system? This is where you lost me. I am done with this. In your initial post I think you asked for us to call you stupid...case closed.

Yeah the system being I'm told what I am or am not allowed to do in the privacy of my own home.

Here's a true story of what happened to me.

I was driving through central Nebraska on a tight scheduled load going to Minnesota. My DM sent me a message saying "stop in Lincoln at (insert address here) for a mandatory random drug test. You must go. Call me if you have any questions. We expect you there within 30 minutes."

Well, Lincoln was only 20 miles from me! When I got there they did a hair test. This happens quite often.

So put yourself in my shoes. This will catch up to you and when it will, it'll be the end of your trucking career as you know it. I wish you luck sir.

What company was that? If you don't mind me asking (Hoping like a fool that maybe my company is too cheap to do that)

*wear on me

My father died young and I probably will too.

Well first of all, don't say that! Don't even think it. You're probably going to live to be 95.

Unfortunately I don't see any way you're going to pull it off even carrying clean urine with you. When they give drug tests they're instructed to keep the door open and watch you to make sure you don't pull any tricks. And of course they do tests on the urine to make sure it's the proper temperature and doesn't show signs that you drank a gallon of water beforehand. They also test for signs of any masking agents. They've been at this game a long time and they've seen a million tricks.

Not to mention, companies know that coming off home time would be the best time to test anyone for drugs or even alcohol. One time I was given a random test just after 8:00 a.m. and they did a breathalyzer test also. I asked the guy, "Do people really fail breathalyzer tests at eight in the morning?" and he said, "You better believe it."

In my opinion you're not going to get away with it for long. I think it's only a matter of time before you get hit with a random at the wrong time. And I'll say this about the anxiety thing - trying to beat the system all the time wears you out after a while. I was always on paper logs and used to cheat on the logs daily. We all did back in the day. And I'll tell ya - that just wears on you. You're always scheming, always worried about getting caught, always trying to make contingency plans in case of random inspections or getting pulled over. It's a lot of stress and it takes some of the fun out of trucking.

Finally one last concern - it seems almost everyone is going to go to hair follicle testing in the coming months and years. The detection is so much better and the prices have come down so much that it's going to become more and more difficult for companies to justify doing urinalysis only. So I think your days are numbered as far as urinalysis goes anyhow.

The fact that many states have now legalized Marijuana and it's proven to have beneficial medicinal effects has taken much of the stigma away from it. But it will never be legal for truckers because of the effects it would have on driving. There are plenty of prescription medications that are perfectly legal for everyday use but will never be approved for trucking.

So it's hard to see much of a future in trucking for anyone who wants to use illegal or unapproved drugs for trucking. I think you're going to have to make a choice one way or the other.

We have a ton of information on drug testing including:

• Hair Follicle vs. Urinalysis: Breakdown By Company - updated list of companies and the type of drug testing they do.
• DOT Alcohol and Drug Policies & Testing - Federal drug testing policies including who is tested, when you're tested, and what they test for.
• CDL Drug & Alcohol Test Methods & Detection Times - includes hair follicle and urinalysis facts along with factors affecting detection times

I try to stay positive about my father. But I do have all the same bad genes he had. I'd say the odds are against me. That's all.

And yes it does where on me. Having to beat the system (assuming I even can). I see it as the price I had to pay to live my life my way.

But you're right. I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

I was hoping someone would come on her and give me a fool proof plan on how to beat the system but I know that's just a pipe dream

I appreciate all of you guys putting in the time to post. I have a lot to think about.

I'm sorry but my fav TV shows are funny without weed and even if they aren't then its time for a new show.... A show or game is only going to last but so long but trucking is a career....

Yeah I hear that a lot. It's deeper than that. My favorite shows are still good with out weed The games I've been waiting to play for years would still be fun w/o weed etc

The best example I can give is: Walking Dead-(yeah it's cliche to love that show by now but whatever) I will still love the show w/o weed. But when I watch it high it brings out emotions that I haven't had since I was a kid. I will actually feel fear for my favorite character etc etc. life just beats these things out of you. When I smoke I'm just emersed in the universe more and it makes the experience 10x better and 10x more real.

And the way I see it-there are only a certain number of times left to experience these things. Walking dead will eventually get cancelled or start to suck.

I will eventually lose the desire to play these favorite games im waiting for etc.

With a limited number on these experiences why would I miss out on doing it the way I WANT to do it and settle for a lesser experience simply because this country has twisted corrupt laws.

We can drown ourselves in poison liquor or pain pills or caffeine but me saying I smoke a plant outta the ground as a life choice and people think I'm some kind of loser addict.

I appreciate all of you guys putting in the time to post. I have a lot to think about.

I'll start by saying I appreciate your time and your advice and I'm really hoping for some open minded people who can give me some advice and NOT just come here to judge.

Also:if you're just coming here to say "drugs are bad" etc please save both our time and don't. (Keep in mind caffeine is a drug-how many of yall "do drugs" really?)

Okay so it's VERY important for you all to know I absolutely do NOT smoke weed and drive. I've been smoking weed since I was 18 and I've never been able to drive while doing so-a normal vehicle-and definitely not a big rig! I'm not stupid.

In fact-I don't even smoke when I'm out on the road because I don't want to risk getting caught with weed in my truck.

I ONLY smoke on my home time. Smoking marijuana is a big deal to me-it's attached to so many things in my life (I.e I won't watch any of my favorite shows w/o it etc). And to many of you that may scream "addict" but I'm anything but. It's a personal choice and my reasoning behind it is a whole other subject on its own and if you have questions about that I will gladly go into it but frankly this post is too long already.

I won't tell you what company I work for but I will say it's one of the bigger ones (as in not family owned etc) and the method of random drug testing is urine analysis.

So the advice I'm looking for is: is it really possible to smoke anxiety free? I've been driving about 6 months and haven't been popped for a random yet but I know it's coming.

And as of now my only plan is to freeze small jars of my own clean urine (because I don't smoke when out on the road-by time I'm home my system is clean again) and then defrost the jar whenever my route includes going to a company property.

Please let me know any experiences you've had with random drug testing or let me know any better ideas or maybe just tell me how stupid I'm being and how so.

It's easy to say, "just stop smoking" but like I mentioned earlier-that's basically saying "stop watching your favorite tv shows-don't listen to any new albums from your favorite bands-don't play and new video games you've been waiting years to come out" etc and I just don't think I can do that.

LIFE IS TOO DAMN SHORT. My father died young and I probably will too.

Thanks!