Drug Testing

There seems to be so many questions about drug testing on this and many other internet forums. Hair vs. UA etc.

If you are a drug user, Truck Driving is probably not a good career choice for you. Companies random all of the time. You WILL get caught. When you do,your CDL will be useless. Look up DAC report if you do not know what it is.

If you really want to drive a Commercial Vehicle, QUIT smoking, snorting or drinking completely for 1 full year. If you can do that then you will not have a thing to worry about.

Not trying to be judgemental, just realistic.

There's a lot more to it than just people doing illegal drugs. For instance:

Say you wind up in screaming pain with an abscess tooth and you have to suffer with it for the next 18 hours until you can get to the Dentist so you take a couple of your wife's old prescription pain pills she had left over to make it more bearable. Well unfortunately that's not your prescription so that's going to be a failed drug test if it gets detected. So people want to know how long they'll have to wait to get started in the industry.

Another example would be someone who lost a loved one recently and went through a bout of depression so they sought some counseling and were given some anti depressants to help get them through the toughest part. After a short time they're doing better so they're ready to hit the job scene but they don't want potential employers finding out about the anti depressants for fear of being turned down for the job. So they want to know what type of drug testing is being done by different companies and they want to know how long it will be before it won't show up on tests.

There are a lot of reasons why people would want to know what type of drug testing is being done by different companies. It's not just about people who use illegal drugs.

Brett, your a wise man.

There's a lot more to it than just people doing illegal drugs. For instance:

Say you wind up in screaming pain with an abscess tooth and you have to suffer with it for the next 18 hours until you can get to the Dentist so you take a couple of your wife's old prescription pain pills she had left over to make it more bearable. Well unfortunately that's not your prescription so that's going to be a failed drug test if it gets detected. So people want to know how long they'll have to wait to get started in the industry.

Another example would be someone who lost a loved one recently and went through a bout of depression so they sought some counseling and were given some anti depressants to help get them through the toughest part. After a short time they're doing better so they're ready to hit the job scene but they don't want potential employers finding out about the anti depressants for fear of being turned down for the job. So they want to know what type of drug testing is being done by different companies and they want to know how long it will be before it won't show up on tests.

There are a lot of reasons why people would want to know what type of drug testing is being done by different companies. It's not just about people who use illegal drugs.

Brett I see your point in one respect and not in another. The second case you made seemed more logical then the first but I am still not convinced.

The first case was flawed by the fact that the person absolutely broke the law by taking someone else's prescription. You can try to justify taking someone else's medication because you are in pain. Getting yourself in that position and just ignoring the fact you could have went to emergency care and received one legally put you in jeopardy.

Second case - Although I feel empathy for the circumstances in this case I find myself torn. The conclusion is not black and white. My problem is the fact before you even get to the issue companies have you fill out a medical information form. One question that is always there is have you ever suffered from depression. Now below that question they always have space for you to give the details. Let's assume you have had temporary depression and you've answered no. Now you've just lied on your application and the company can terminate you if they happen to find out. Two years later you are in a horrible accident and you weren't at fault. The opposing attorneys subpoena your medical information and find out you have been under psychological care. What happens? Hair follicle test Cocaine (Cocaine & Benzoylecgonine), Marijuana, Opiates (Codeine, Morphine & 6-Monacteyl Morphine), Methamphetamine (Methamphetamine/Amphetamine & Ecstasy), and Phencyclidine (PCP). These five drug classes are mandated for testing by the Federal Government.

In most cases they detect usage within 90 days. The exception would be chronic users.

Now that everyone sees the list ask yourself would you want anyone driving a truck that has taken any of those illicit drugs in the last 90 days?

Also Brett when I read the questions I can't help but see the minority of sincere posts from people. It seems an overwhelming amount of posts are trying to get clean from marijuana use.

The point is to prevent people from getting into the industry in the first place if they're not clean and to prevent people from condemning their trucking careers to the sewer because of a failed drug test. I never said anything about people lying on their application or cheating the system or getting away with anything.

We're trying to help people understand what drug tests are being used, what they detect, and for how long so they'll know if they're clean or not and they can stay away from the industry altogether if they're not. When they know they're clean then they're ready to join the industry. I mean, isn't that what you would want if you were hiring drivers? Would you want the ones who aren't going to pass the tests to just avoid taking them altogether?

Would it make better sense just to keep everything a secret and send a stream of people to the clinics hoping they're not about to destroy their career and their lives? Because we get a steady stream of people in here that are in desperate financial times with children to feed and a mortgage to pay and most of the time trucking is their best opportunity to stay afloat. If they fail a drug test that's probably the end of the house and now they have a failed drug test to overcome on top of all of the hardships they already faced. Who wins if that happens?

One of the keys here, with respect to possible LEGITIMATE "PROHIBITED LIST" DRUG USE - is to DOCUMENT.

Example: I had wicked stomach pain and passed some blood. I have a history of diverticulosis. So I go to the ER - they hit me with an anti-nausea medication and pain meds (morphine) and send me up for a CT Scan. Thankfully - no major issues - blood work and CT were clean.

This won't show up in a urine, but might show up in a hair test (as a single instance of meds will likely not exceed the testing threshold) - and if it DOES - I'd better have a COPY OF THE RECORDS from the hospital visit to prove it was legitimate.

OTOH - there are instances of legitimate pain med use (not counting splitting hairs over taking your wifes meds, which technically, is illegal - regardless of whether or not any/many of us have done so).

I had a car wreck a few years ago - herniated discs - and was on meds for a number of months. Legitimate documented use.

Illicit substances - weed, coke, etc. - there's really no justification for them showing up in a hair/urine test. Without getting into a "morality or legal debate" over marijuana - it's a prohibited substance by FMSCA Regs. If you've been puffing within the window of time the test will cover (and the more you puff, the stronger the positive), then you are going to fail a drug screen.

There's no explaining or justifying. Even "legitimate medical marijuana" - and yes, there is such a thing, and it helps many people.

Sadly - the number of people that come on here, asking about drug testing, demonstrates they are concerned with being able to PASS ONE.

And I agree with Brett. Much posts as I've seen in my years here at TT (and other boards) - the object is to try and not be judgmental (even in the case of illicit street drug use), but to inform folks of what they need to do, in order to start a career in the industry. As Brett mentioned - we'd would hate to see someone up-end their life, spend 20 hours on a bus, only to be sent home with a scarlet letter and no hope of entering the industry without jumping through even more hoops.

So yes - people that use illicit substances on a regular basis - should NOT be operating a CMV. People who have used in the past, should have a basic idea of how long they need to clean up for, in order to enter the industry.

What twists me though - is the "I only took one puff off a joint 3 months ago at a party, and got sent home from an orientation" folks. There is a CUTOFF POINT on these tests. Sitting in a car once, with someone that smoked a doobie, is not going to net a positive test. That line of blow didn't just jump off the mirror and force itself into your nose.

FACT - if you've been using - you're at risk of getting caught in a screening and ending your career before it even starts.

Rick

I better understand your point of view now and although not completely in agreement respect you for it.