Thinking About Becoming A Truck Driver.

Hi. Im thinking bout becoming a Truck Driver. My best friend is one and is very happy that I may be considering a career in this field. I have a CDL Permit - B that I received back in May cause I was currently working for the School District and was trying to become a School Bus driver but after achieving many hours of studying for the tests, passing the DOT physical and four days into the class - I was fired for drug test coming back positive for marijuana.

After complete confusion of why my test came back positive and of crying for 3 - 4 days straight, I was told by my stepdaughter that my favorite banana nut muffins she had made was sprinkled with weed. She did this on purpose days before my test cause she was mad that I put an eviction out on her to get her out of my house😕. After going crazy on her but catching 'no charge' - I've decided to still push forward and now try to go for my CDL - A license.

I have had many jobs and just want something new and different and feel like this would be perfect for me. I love traveling and am married and hubby is in agreeance with me doing this. He is even thinking of doing it as well and we TEAM DRIVE. I found this site on accident and glad I did. I read that free online book - which is AWESOME btw and other articles on here as well. Im a little scared and nervous but I know I can do anything I put my mind to.

Ive read many of the forums on here as well -great topics and advice btw as well. Any suggestions for someone having thoughts about this? I have NEVER EVER DRIVEN A COMMERCIAL vehicle - not even a U-Haul truck - lol lol. My bestie loves it. And for the record. Congrats to all those that have passed their tests and much much success to you in this field. Thanks for all replies in advance.

That is a crazy story about your stepdaughter!

Honestly I don't know how easy it will be to get into the industry if you have a positive test result on your record, regardless of the reason for it. Others will chime in on this I'm sure. Can you elaborate a little further? Who was the test for, was it reported to anyone, did you challenge it and if so what was the result, etc.

Hi Persian Conversion. It was for the school district. I was trying to become a school bus driver. We were given a test on the first day and I knew I was going to pass - considering the fact that I had worked there almost a year and was well aware of random drug testing prior to hiring and knew that I would be given a test among becoming a driver. I dont do drugs and have not done drugs in 10 - 15 years now.

I talked to the higher ups but as soon as I mentioned my positive test result - the conversation was cut off and told that I could never ever be hired as a driver nor could I continue my employment there😕. I know the story sounds crazy but its true. I dont know if it has gotten reported. I was told by the examiner that I had 72 hours to have the same sample retested. I refused to have the same sample tested(considering it came back positive) and wanted to take another fresh test. I was refused a fresh test but the test already provided to be tested again with me paying $125.

And if it has gotten reported, I dont know to who but all I can say is that I was setup. And Im hoping there is some way I can overcome all of this.

Thanks for your reply.

Does the school district report to dot?

Im not sure if they do or not. I do know that I had to go thru the DOT for my physical and to receive my medical examiner card.

Does the school district report to dot?

Honestly, my guess is that any future employer would easily be able to find a record of this, given that it was a government employer that tested you.

This is such a unique and frustrating situation, I honestly don't know what to say. I'm wondering if maybe you could get your stepdaughter to sign some sort of affidavit, then maybe get a lawyer to try and have the test expunged? That's just a wild guess, I don't even know who you could petition for that, or if they would even consider it. Plus it doesn't sound like your stepdaughter would be willing to own up to it anyway.

She really needs to understand that she did something incredibly damaging, with incredibly serious, potentially lifelong ramifications. That is just unbelievably shameful behavior, and she deserves some serious consequences. How old is she anyway?

I think you are going to find yourself hitting a brick wall - it is unfortunate for you, but this industry is really tough on this particular problem of positive drug testing.

I don't even know what the details are, but there is a D.O.T. prescribed method called the SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) program that one has to go through to be considered for hire as a professional truck driver once they have tested positive. It is a process that must be completed, but even after you do it that doesn't guarantee you any job approvals. From that point on it is still up to the companies to decide if they are willing to take a chance on you or not. But prior to completing that program I don't think you are going to find any opportunity.

After being on this site for more years than I can remember, I had thought I've seen it all. Boy was I wrong.

The only thing I recommend is an old school-style, Russian discipline session with a leather belt. It works wonders.

So you're saying Old School is into leather belts and discipline from Russians? Kinky!

After being on this site for more years than I can remember, I had thought I've seen it all. Boy was I wrong.

The only thing I recommend is an old school-style, Russian discipline session with a leather belt. It works wonders.

I don't even know what the details are, but there is a D.O.T. prescribed method called the SAP (Substance Abuse Professional) program that one has to go through to be considered for hire as a professional truck driver once they have tested positive.

Indeed there is. We do have some good information in our wiki that will help quite a bit:

DOT Drug and Alcohol Policies & Testing

Substance Abuse Professionals

Unfortunately it's true - you're probably going to have a really tough time getting started in trucking because of this. You may have to do some digging around to see if that was reported and whether or not you'll need to complete any type of program in order to get your Class A and get into commercial driving. You only had your Class B permit at the time so you weren't a commercial driver yet when you took the drug test. Maybe you'll get lucky and it won't be considered a failure as a commercial driver and you won't have to go through any programs. But even so I'm afraid it's highly likely that a failed test will still show up on background checks and that's going to be tough to overcome.