So I May Be Done Before I Even Started. Help!

So I went to an orientation for Knight and passed the urine test but failed the hair follicle test, it came back positive for marijuana, which is MIND BLOWING as I haven't smoked pot since high school 15 years ago, and even then it was a time or two to fit in, so at no point would I say I was a stoner! But everything I'm reading is saying basically no company will hire me now! Is that true? Is there anything I can do or should I find a new dream?

By chance, do you hang around people who smoke while you're there? Either way a failed drug test is a huge issue. Although not impossible to find a job somewhere but it'll be extremely difficult. Most would recommend looking into SAP , regardless if you smoked marijuana or not, you failed a drug test saying you had it in your system at some point in the last few months. So by doing SAP, it'll show them you're taking the steps to stop. Not directly saying you smoked or not, but it doesn't look good.

You had to do something. Most companies only look back a few months with the hair test for drugs. Did you use medical marijuana or some other new form of it? It is very rare for these test to get a false positive. If you truly have not used anything in years, I would call Knight, state your case and see if they could retest you. That is where I would start.

With CFI, I passed a hair and two urine tests before being hired. I know what goes into my system. Why don't you?

It seems to be a fairly regular topic here that somebody fails a drug test and vehemently proclaims their innocence. And Danielle may very well be innocent in this case, only she knows for sure.

So then everybody rightly suspects that these failed drug test people are hanging out with the wrong friends who are using prohibited substances. And in many cases this is true, so what is the lesson to be learned here? Bad association produces bad results If you are a truck driver or want to be a driver, DO NOT hang out with ANYONE using banned substances. It's like an alcoholic hanging out in bars, there is just no happy future in that.

Truck driving is so much more than just driving the truck. It is really about your entire lifestyle. Example: Do you like to stay up late and lose sleep playing video games? Then drive tired the next day? That will not show up on a drug test, but it's not acceptable to drive tired for any reason.

Please do not consider a driving career if you are not committed to an entire lifestyle compatible with being a safe, sensible driver.

Sadly, it's pretty difficult to fail a hair test, without the actual substance abuse that creates a positive. And usually, lab tests are "supposed to be" split sample" - that is - if a positive is detected, they test a second time. For "second hand smoke" to create a positive, you would essentially have to be in the presence of a heavy smoker for an extended period of time, and even then it's debatable. Whether you got "dosed unaware" by something like an "edible" (which happens more often than you think), a positive hair screen is considered pretty indicative of use at some time, and it takes MORE THAN ONE DOSE to exceed the testing threshold. REAL THC positives are the easiest to detect long-term, as the metabolites stay in the fat cells and leach out - so it will take 30-60 days for a daily smoker to go undetectable on a urine, and 6-8 months on a hair test (depending on if they follow protocol and only use the "standard" 1.5"'s of hair for the screening (90 day screening).

(Pretty much) EVERYTHING you wanted to know about: Weed and Hair Drug Testing (from a pro-weed site).

While hair follicle tests are not "officially" sanctioned as a DOT testing method YET - they ARE acceptable as a "pre-employment" drug screen.

Also sadly - there is very little recourse once failed.

Now - since the drug screen usually comes BEFORE HIRE - there is still a debate as to whether or not an orientation screen is DAC reportable. Which means you can TRY applying to another company QUICKLY, before anything hits the system - and since you weren't "actually hired", you could leave the failed company (Knight) off of your work history as an employer (technically), but if it pops anywhere, you will get nailed for a lying on an application (which is also the kiss of death in the industry, and not recommended here). Likewise, even though the FMCSA Drug Screen Reporting site isn't up and running YET - because hair tests are not yet "officially sanctioned" by FMCSA - and it is still debatable whether hair screenings will end up reported there, even before they are n "officially sanctioned method" of testing (which is coming soon anyways).

The suggestion of going through a SAP , is no guarantee of a hire/re-hire (ESPECIALLY for someone brand new to the industry), and someone new will likely be seen as a "problem child", and most companies will take a pass, due to the fact that SAP Re-Hires are subject to enhanced supervision/testing for a period of time after completion (which means hauling the driver in for additional testing beyond the usual "random testing" requirements of the driver pool - "Problem Child").

I'm not getting accusatory or judgmental here - chances are you popped hot FOR A REASON, the instances of "false positives" are relatively rare (statistically - the study noted in the link had too small of a control group to be considered definitive).

I wouldn't really want to say "you're totally out of luck" - but odds are - YOU ARE. Especially if you go elsewhere, and pull a second positive. Failed drug screens are the #1 KISS OF DEATH in this industry. Even if some future administration decriminalizes or legalizes weed federally, it is INCREDIBLY UNLIKELY that it will be approved for positions on the federal "Safety Sensitive Positions" list of jobs (pilots, truck drivers, etc.).

Best of luck.

Rick

One of our members failed due to an OTC health food store supplement.

is that possible? she took somethinf for restless leg syndrome that had trace amounts of hemp and tested hot

We also have a ton of information on drug testing for the DOT physical, the return-to-duty process, and more:

• DOT Drug and Alcohol Policies & Testing
• CDL Drug & Alcohol Testing Methods & Detection Times
• CDL Drug Test Failure & Return-to-Duty Process
• Substance Abuse Professionals
• Hair Follicle vs. Urinalysis Drug Testing: Breakdown By Company
• Forum Topics Tagged "Drug And Alcohol Testing"