How Do I Get A Job In My Circumstance?
Topic 29462 | Page 1
Hello to all. New member here. I have been reading some threads and it seems like y'all are both knowledgeable and helpful. Anyways, here's my story:
I just got my CDL class A last month. Back in August 2020 before I decided to go to school, I had been driving a box truck (non-CDL obviously) but I was between jobs. I got a call from a staffing service with an offer of employment driving non-CDL. They said all I had to do was pass a urine test and the job was mine. Long story short, I failed the test and didn't get the job. But for some reason I got put on the drug and alcohol clearinghouse. The FMCSA said it was because I had a CDL permit at the time. I got my CDL permit on my own before I started school to get a jump start. I think that if I did not have my permit at the time and only my regular drivers license, then I still wouldn't have got the job, but I wouldn't have been put on the clearinghouse either. So much for trying to get a head start.
It doesn't matter if anyone believes this next part, but the truth is that aside from this one screwup, I have an absolutely clean DMV record. A couple of speeding tickets maybe, but that was over 20 years ago. No DUIs or accidents or anything like that. And I have zero criminal record. Not bragging, but I'm saying it because I think it adds to the understanding of my story. Yes, I alone am responsible for failing the drug test. Anyway, I found an SAP the very next day after I was told by this staffing service that I was put on the clearinghouse. I met with him and he said his opinion was that I made a one-time mistake that he was sure was an isolated incident that was unlikely to be repeated. So he had me attend a few meetings, which I happily did, and he wrote me a letter stating that, in his opinion, I am definitely employable pending a clean drug test with no risk.
So here's my three questions:
1) Is it true that one can be put on the Drug and Alcohol clearinghouse with only a CDL permit and never having worked a CDL job? I mean it happened to me but I want to make sure this is on the level.
2) How is it that a major OTR carrier told me that they would never ever hire me with a drug violation when I'm supposedly off the clearinghouse entirely after 5 years if I stay clean? Is there some way they can find out about me after 5 years?
3) Can anyone provide a list of any known companies that will take a chance and hire someone like me? I searched online and found second chance companies for felonies, but I found no second chance companies for drugs/alcohol.
Sorry for rambling. Thanks in advance for and help/advice.
Howdy, Mad Dog, and welcome to Trucking Truth~!
IMHO, this 'clearinghouse' is "so new" to the whole industry, nobody 'really knows' what direction anyone is heading, or should. Rickipedia would know, but he's on hiatus for awhile from TT ... you could look up prior posts from Rick S. on the subject, however. It seems like companies can NOT take a chance on you, being on that list, legally.
Another thing that you might want to (need to?) look into .. is an SAP (on your own dime, sadly.)
Again, it's all i've got, but .. i'm pretty sure I'm close to correct . . . . sorry!
~ Anne ~
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
Log onto the Clearinghouse site and view what's on there for your record.
You will not change what happened, so you can apply to companies, and provide proof that you successfully completed the SAP program protocols.
As an example for anyone reading this, drugs and commercial driving do not mix, before, during or after.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Hi. Keep in mind that each company may have different SAP requirements. Good luck.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Every CDL holder is in the clearing house regardless if they ever failed a drug test. Companies can only see your info when you give them permission. However, you must give that permission if you want a job.
I would suggest calling recruiters and explaining what happened up front. If they won't hire you you haven't wasted their time and yours with an application.
Good luck.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
FMCSA rules regarding failed tests pertain to both CDL license and CDL permit holders. Hopefully, completing the SAP program will allow you to get on somewhere.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.New Reply:
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Hello to all. New member here. I have been reading some threads and it seems like y'all are both knowledgeable and helpful. Anyways, here's my story:
I just got my CDL class A last month. Back in August 2020 before I decided to go to school, I had been driving a box truck (non-CDL obviously) but I was between jobs. I got a call from a staffing service with an offer of employment driving non-CDL. They said all I had to do was pass a urine test and the job was mine. Long story short, I failed the test and didn't get the job. But for some reason I got put on the drug and alcohol clearinghouse. The FMCSA said it was because I had a CDL permit at the time. I got my CDL permit on my own before I started school to get a jump start. I think that if I did not have my permit at the time and only my regular drivers license, then I still wouldn't have got the job, but I wouldn't have been put on the clearinghouse either. So much for trying to get a head start.
It doesn't matter if anyone believes this next part, but the truth is that aside from this one screwup, I have an absolutely clean DMV record. A couple of speeding tickets maybe, but that was over 20 years ago. No DUIs or accidents or anything like that. And I have zero criminal record. Not bragging, but I'm saying it because I think it adds to the understanding of my story. Yes, I alone am responsible for failing the drug test. Anyway, I found an SAP the very next day after I was told by this staffing service that I was put on the clearinghouse. I met with him and he said his opinion was that I made a one-time mistake that he was sure was an isolated incident that was unlikely to be repeated. So he had me attend a few meetings, which I happily did, and he wrote me a letter stating that, in his opinion, I am definitely employable pending a clean drug test with no risk.
So here's my three questions:
1) Is it true that one can be put on the Drug and Alcohol clearinghouse with only a CDL permit and never having worked a CDL job? I mean it happened to me but I want to make sure this is on the level.
2) How is it that a major OTR carrier told me that they would never ever hire me with a drug violation when I'm supposedly off the clearinghouse entirely after 5 years if I stay clean? Is there some way they can find out about me after 5 years?
3) Can anyone provide a list of any known companies that will take a chance and hire someone like me? I searched online and found second chance companies for felonies, but I found no second chance companies for drugs/alcohol.
Sorry for rambling. Thanks in advance for and help/advice.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence