Hair Follicle Testing Question

Hello, I am currently in the process of finding a paid training program to get my CDL.

I am having a concern about hair follicle testing as it relates to marijuana. I came back from a vacation in California a month ago and enjoyed some recreational marijuana while visiting from out of state. In your experience, will a paid training program hair follicle test you before having you onboarded with the company?

If not, great. If so, how long will marijuana register in a follicle test after having smoked it? Do you think I should wait a few months before I'm in the clear?

Or do they only use urine tests?

Thank you, -Brian

Here is a link to a page here on Trucking Truth on a breakdown of which companies do follicle testing. It seems to be quite a majority of them that do it.

The thing about THC and its metabolites, there are too many factors to determine how long it will be traceable for in your body. Hair is said to be 90 days, but could depend on the rate of hair growth, thickness of hair, etc. A common turn around time for urine testing is 30 days, however that really varies as well depending on metabolism, BMI , and honestly no one really knows what, lol. There are a lot of calculators online to give you an estimate. I had a friend who took about 50 days before he could pass a urine test. He wasn't too big of a guy, just smoked a couple times a week.

Honestly it really varies, but 3 months+ if you are looking at a company that does a hair follicle test.

If you did this then, when Swift did a bunch of us back in December, it was 4 months. But as Jay G. Said it could be different with the BMI and the length of hair. Also the fact that so.e shaved their head and the lady was forced to take hait from other places. So, I would wait at least 3 months before applying to company sponsored training programs. Then you will have a better chance. But it would have been better if you hadn't done it at all. Just remember that if you test positive, you might be out of luck getting on with any of the major companies.

Raptor

Here is a link to a page here on Trucking Truth on a breakdown of which companies do follicle testing. It seems to be quite a majority of them that do it.

The thing about THC and its metabolites, there are too many factors to determine how long it will be traceable for in your body. Hair is said to be 90 days, but could depend on the rate of hair growth, thickness of hair, etc. A common turn around time for urine testing is 30 days, however that really varies as well depending on metabolism, BMI , and honestly no one really knows what, lol. There are a lot of calculators online to give you an estimate. I had a friend who took about 50 days before he could pass a urine test. He wasn't too big of a guy, just smoked a couple times a week.

Honestly it really varies, but 3 months+ if you are looking at a company that does a hair follicle test.

Well that really took the wind out of my sail, if I had known my future plans, I would not have smoked marijuana. I guess I'll need to wait a few more months. Thank you for all the information!

If you did this then, when Swift did a bunch of us back in December, it was 4 months. But as Jay G. Said it could be different with the BMI and the length of hair. Also the fact that so.e shaved their head and the lady was forced to take hait from other places. So, I would wait at least 3 months before applying to company sponsored training programs. Then you will have a better chance. But it would have been better if you hadn't done it at all. Just remember that if you test positive, you might be out of luck getting on with any of the major companies.

Raptor

So if I test positive for marijuana with a paid training program through a company or a DOT exam, that will be on the record and available to any future prospecting employers to see?

Thank you -Brian

A Swift medical examiner told me when I asked that the hair test was for 90 days.

However you look at it, if either test (hair or pee) comes out hot, your career is over. So better to wait a bit and be safe.

So if I test positive for marijuana with a paid training program through a company or a DOT exam, that will be on the record and available to any future prospecting employers to see?

Yes. You will also need to complete a SAP even if you dont have a problem. Even after completion many carriers will reject your application due to a zero tolerance for drugs/alcohol. There is a database that's in the works that will list those who have failed a drug screen for a DOT drug screen. It really is in your best interest to hold off until you know 100% the test will come back clean. Also know that there's a zero tolerance for illegal drugs, and even some legal prescriptions. Even if you partake in activities in a state it's legal, if you get sent for a random and it comes back positive you will likely be terminated immediately.

A Swift medical examiner told me when I asked that the hair test was for 90 days.

However you look at it, if either test (hair or pee) comes out hot, your career is over. So better to wait a bit and be safe.

So if I test positive for marijuana with a paid training program through a company or a DOT exam, that will be on the record and available to any future prospecting employers to see?

Yes. You will also need to complete a SAP even if you dont have a problem. Even after completion many carriers will reject your application due to a zero tolerance for drugs/alcohol. There is a database that's in the works that will list those who have failed a drug screen for a DOT drug screen. It really is in your best interest to hold off until you know 100% the test will come back clean. Also know that there's a zero tolerance for illegal drugs, and even some legal prescriptions. Even if you partake in activities in a state it's legal, if you get sent for a random and it comes back positive you will likely be terminated immediately.

Well, given the implications that will follow if I fail a follicle test, which will basically end my career before even starting it, I'll need to wait this one out, perhaps even wait 120 days just to be extra safe.

The only other option would be to find a paid training program with a company that does not follicle test, but that still has risk involved considering no company policy is set in stone and subject to change.

Thank you to everyone who responded, I really appreciate your input!

Just wait it out. CFI tests you before training. Any failed drug test will seriously harm your trucking career.

Best advice is wait 30 days for it to show in your hair, then cut your hair very short. It takes a while to show up, as your hair grows slowly.

Then wait 90 days. You will need 1 to 1 1/2” of hair to test.

Then never smoke again, because you will get caught.

Hello, from what I have heard from various sources, it depends on BMI and how much you had smoked and for how long... THC is usually stored in fat cells... Hair follicle testing can detect various drugs for anywhere from 60 - 180 days with the norm being about 90 for most drugs. I have heard rumors (and only rumors) that HFT can detect drugs up to 1+ years. My recommendation would be wait 120 days and go for it...