Changing My Life

Hello everyone.searching online for a source on truckng information and landed here. I'm a combat veteran recently met boarded out of the army due to PTSD. I have four combat tours under my belt and these past two years have been really hard struggle for my life . Trucking is always been something appealing to me because I could see the country and I'm on my own.

I have a six-year-old son who means the world to me and even though I only see him every two weeks I still feel guilt for getting on the truck .I have not been hired by the company but I have about six pre-hire letters awaiting my answer. I know that this career is the right one for me and I don't want to **** it up. I put away all my drugs that the VA gives me I haven't use them at all. But I have PTSD and I found myself smoking marijuana to deal with my anxiety. It's been 20 days since I last smoked. I was back on my meds since they are prescribed and you're staying clean and working out to detox my body. I chose trucking because I want to change in my life . I am scared to fail the drug screen. I plan on giving CRST a shot. They have me going to orientation at the end of this month hopefully I'll be clean hopefully I am able to get this job and change my life.

• Trucker's Wiki: Hair Follicle vs. Urinalysis Drug Testing: Breakdown By Company
• Trucker's Wiki: DOT Drug and Alcohol Policies & Testing
• Forum Topics Tagged "Drug And Alcohol Testing"

I wish you the best. I hope you become a very successful driver! And I mean that.

From what you wrote, it looks like you understand the importance of the drug test. You do not want to fail a drug test. If you do fail, this will follow you for years, no major company will hire you, and it will go on your DAC report which all companies can see.

I have provided links which can help you.

Like you wrote- you want to be clean- but you recently smoked marijuana.

1 The Hair follicle drug test goes back months. Whereas the urinalysis goes back 30 days.

2 You might want to get a drug test done before you go to orientation.

3 I am not encouraging you to game the system- And I am not assuming that is your attitude- I did not get that out of your writing.

Whereas the urinalysis goes back 30 days.

Heavy users of marijuana can test positive for over 100 days after their last use. It's not the norm but it is possible. Just wanted to throw this out there, do not assume you are clean after thirty days. I second the recommendation to get a drug test done on your own before you go to orientation.

Best of luck to you.

20 days is probably too short for weed smoked on a regular basis - and that's for urine. Heavy smokers might still pop a positive on a urine, going back to almost 60 days. For hair testing, a regular/moderately heavy smoker is going to have to go 6 months back. Most will test for "adulterants", that is - the quickie detox stuff that "supposedly guarantees" a clean drug test.

The only way to actually guarantee a clean test - is to be clean. And a failed drug screen is pretty much going to blackball you from the industry.

Also - the PTSD meds that are prescribed, also may well be prohibited for driving a CMV. Many anti-anxiety & anti-depressant meds are not acceptable, as they can cause drowsiness.

If you want to list what those meds are - we might be able to look them up for you - OR - you can contact a local practitioner that does DOT medical exams and enquire as to whether or not the meds you are on, are on the prohibited list. If they are NOT on the prohibited list, then a letter from the prescribing physician, stating the particulars of the meds you are on, that you are stable on the dosage, they are well tolerated, and would not pose a risk to you operating a CMV is going to be something you are going to want to bring with you to orientation.

And even then - it is at the discretion of the companies medical examiner, whether or not to issue a DOT medical card.

Best of luck to you, please keep us posted on your progress.

And most of all -

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE...

Rick

Im not a smoker i dont smoke weed or even cigs. It was an option to my Meds and i took it. One time thing wont do it again. The meds i take are not on any list i check with DOT they just make me feel horrible.

Im not a smoker i dont smoke weed or even cigs. It was an option to my Meds and i took it. One time thing wont do it again. The meds i take are not on any list i check with DOT they just make me feel horrible.

Not judging or accusing here brother.

You stated in your original post that the "last time you smoked was 20 days ago".

If you smoked that ONE TIME - then you probably won't drop a dirty - but I'd wait the 30 days to be sure.

Any meds you take are going to have to be declared when you do your DOT physical - and it's still at the discretion of the medical examiner, whether or not he will approve a DOT Med card.

Again - as I mentioned previously - letter from the prescribing physician.

Rick

Thanks Rick.

I feel horrible trust me. And this civilian life is crazy. Im going to wait it out a few more weeks and take a test myself Before i put myself out there. I got my CDL on my own while i was in the military. I took 2 weeks of leave to train on a buddys truck and i was able to pass so im still going to get hired as a student driver. I just dont want my first job to be a failure over something that i know myself im not going to ever do again. I came on here because this site is great i get to meet professional drivers and get inside information about the trucking life.

Combattruckker - check with your primary care at the VA to see if they will give you a urinalysis. Also you can get your DOT physical thru the VA, I'm scheduled to get my in a couple weeks. Just find it more convenient since they have full access to my history and be able to make a more informed decision. I've been off my anti-depressant since NOV and has taken some readjustment but with these new life goals I have for myself I'm finding that my emotional, mental and spiritual condition are more livelier then ever.

Good luck in this endeavor my fella warrior, stay safe!

~scott

Good luck combattrucker, I wish you the best. I'm on anti-depressants, and I didn't realize how lucky to be DOT approved. My meds don't make me tired. My prescribing doctor knows that I'm a driver for a non-trucking company, so it's important that it's non-drowsy. So when I transition to a trucking company, my meds won't impact my driving

In most cases you will be given a DOT 10 Panel drug test, which is the same test given by DOT when a driver is involved in an accident.

There are other drugs, not tested for on the DOT 10 Panel, but I strongly encourage you to not withhold any prescription drug information that you are currently taking. If you decide to discontinue use, with your doctors approval, then it would be acceptable to not disclose them to a prospective employer.

Most traces of prescription drugs will be out of your system within 48 to 72 hours. These drug tests do not actually test for specific drugs, but rather chemicals your body produces in response to those drugs.

Drugs like Hydrocodone and Oxycodone will be gone from your system within days, anti-depressants can take several weeks, since they build up in your system, but marijuana lasts quite a while, especially if you use it habitually on a daily basis.

Once in the industry, you will have to stay clean. If you cause a fatality, it can mean the difference between no charges being filed, or spending a decade or three in federal prison. There have been may horrific accidents caused by people under the influence who made terrible decisions, and it is the goal of DOT to eliminate that type of behavior with a heavy gavel.