Pre Employment Test Results

I went to take a pre-employment drug test and failed. I thought I'd be in the clear, but was wrong. I made the mistake on the weekend ( this was a one time thing, really) and come time for my test, thought I'd be safe. Why are pre-employment test results showing up on the Clearinghouse? I'm not employed by anyone at this point. To be fair, if the clearing house has to be involved, there should be a second test in my opinion. There is a difference between a long term drug problem and a one time thing. Anyone have thoughts on this? I wonder how to seek this change in the clearinghouse.

There is a difference between a long term drug problem and a one time thing. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Well, that is true.

However, you are attempting to drive a commercial vehicle. It wouldn't matter if you were under the influence and killed someone because of a drug problem or because you partied a little over the weekend. The result is the same.

The level of responsibility held by someone behind the wheel of a big rig is extremely high. There are a million jobs that are not high-risk jobs and will not require drug testing. If you want to step up to something like trucking, you must step up your game.

Apologies and excuses do not bring back lost lives.

To be fair, if the clearing house has to be involved, there should be a second test in my opinion. There is a difference between a long term drug problem and a one time thing. Anyone have thoughts on this? I wonder how to seek this change in the clearinghouse.

I don't understand why you think there should be a second drug test. When would it be administered and what's the purpose of a second test?

As for a pre-employment drug test that's failed, if it wasn't reported to the ClearingHouse, how would you answer an application about failing a drug test? If you didn't admit to it, then you would be lying.

How would you seek what change at the Clearing House? Changing the rules? It isn't going to happen and that's a good thing. Since the clearing House has started recording, I think about 4 years ago, the incidence of drug use has more than doubled. Because of that, all companies now have to test more CDL holders then ever before.

If I were you, I would think long and hard about your one-time incident and how much trouble it cost you. Then I would get into another job and let three or four years pass with steady work and then start all over again. Although, you probably would need to check with companies before you started going for your CLP again. But you need to put time between your drug results in the Clearing House and trying to get hired again.

No, you're wanting a second set of rules to apply to your poor decision making. You chose to partake, got caught, so now you are rewarded to the consequences of your actions. Another example of "I should be entitled." Nope.

I remember this story from years ago about the pilot who joked that he had a shoe bomb.

A very valid argument would be that if the pilot intended to crash the plane he had control of it and can simply drive it into a building or into a mountainside.

But that doesn't matter. The regulations prohibit anyone from making a joke about a bomb. No exceptions.

Same applies to drug testing. It doesn't matter the circumstances of the drug use it's prohibited. A positive drug test will severely inhibit your ability to drive a truck.

Pilot joke about shoe bomb

I see one major issue in your line of thinking:

You admitted to using an illegal substance before taking a pre-employment drug test. Why would a 2nd test and not reporting it to the clearinghouse apply to you? You are exactly the person that pre-employment drug tests and the clearinghouse are designed to weed out. Your response is consistent with someone who had a false positive pop up for one reason or another. But, this wasn't you at all.

Accept that you have been rejected from entering the trucking industry and understand that drug use, even once, has no place in the industry. Try again in a few years and focus on making better decisions before trying to enter the trucking industry as a driver.

Reporting it to the employer is done through the testing site. The testing site and the employer are need to know in my opinion. If I were driving a truck already and applying to this job then it would be fair to report it. I was not driving anything for employment.

To be fair, if the clearing house has to be involved, there should be a second test in my opinion. There is a difference between a long term drug problem and a one time thing. Anyone have thoughts on this? I wonder how to seek this change in the clearinghouse.

I don't understand why you think there should be a second drug test. When would it be administered and what's the purpose of a second test?

As for a pre-employment drug test that's failed, if it wasn't reported to the ClearingHouse, how would you answer an application about failing a drug test? If you didn't admit to it, then you would be lying.

How would you seek what change at the Clearing House? Changing the rules? It isn't going to happen and that's a good thing. Since the clearing House has started recording, I think about 4 years ago, the incidence of drug use has more than doubled. Because of that, all companies now have to test more CDL holders then ever before.

If I were you, I would think long and hard about your one-time incident and how much trouble it cost you. Then I would get into another job and let three or four years pass with steady work and then start all over again. Although, you probably would need to check with companies before you started going for your CLP again. But you need to put time between your drug results in the Clearing House and trying to get hired again.

Reporting it to the employer is done through the testing site. The testing site and the employer are need to know in my opinion. If I were driving a truck already and applying to this job then it would be fair to report it. I was not driving anything for employment.

No... The clearinghouse makes sure that EVERY potential employer knows it. Therefore the clearinghouse is saving a lot of time and money, rather than every employer wasting time and money on you.

I'm confused what part you think is a mistake... Taking the drug to begin with, or miscalculating whether you would pass the test? Either way, trucking companies do not want to put their $250,000 equipment, possibly $10 million freight, and the lives of the public in the hands of someone who makes bad judgements then shrugs off responsibility. Add the potential of a $50 million lawsuit when you kill someone... Yeah, okay.

If you want to continue you will need to go to a Substance Abuse Program.

Honestly, I don't want you on the road with a nonchalant view of drugs and the effects. But unfortunately, this is what the liberal stance on drugs has created in our country over the past few decades.

Wendy part of accountability is acceptance of the rules and regulations and taking responsibility for the consequences of noncompliance regardless of whether you agree with them or not. You are not going to get a free pass from anyone on this forum. Sorry… it’s how it is.

And to be clear, nothing you say or do is going to change it. In fact your energy is better placed on working through it.

Keep in mind, as hiring becomes tighter due to reduced freight markets, the competition for available jobs is going to increase. You are competing with applicants having clean backgrounds. Trucking companies and their insurance companies will not take a chance on marginal candidates… they can be more selective now.

I encourage you to learn from this, take full responsibility for it and move on. We’re here to help, but not debate on the justice of your decision to get high and an extremely inopportune time.

Good luck.

I appreciate your feedback and your opinion is taken as advice. I'm not making excuses and or apologies. I started driving a school bus in 1998 with my B license, so I totally understand the responsibilities of driving and being safe, I had the most precious cargo, children. I'm just saying that a failed pre-employment test means the job is lost. That's on me. Every driving job should have a drug test, 100%. If I am driving for a company and get drug tested and fail, yes, then I should be restricted. But, in my opinion, a failed pre-employment should stay between the employer and the testing site. Again, I won't get the job which is fair. Accidents happen with or without being under the influence and this is a horrible tragedy. As you say " partied over the weekend". I was finally called for a job, now did I know this before the weekend, no. If I had another interview a week from that and was tested I would have a clean test and all test after. We all have our opinions and mine just thinks that pre-employment test shouldn't effect the clearing house. I love driving and that's why I went from my B to A. With no experience and having a hard time finding a job I went back to office work. If I had known I'd be getting an interview and drug test after that weekend, no way would that have happened. Thank you for the response to my post and safe travels.

There is a difference between a long term drug problem and a one time thing. Anyone have thoughts on this?

Well, that is true.

However, you are attempting to drive a commercial vehicle. It wouldn't matter if you were under the influence and killed someone because of a drug problem or because you partied a little over the weekend. The result is the same.

The level of responsibility held by someone behind the wheel of a big rig is extremely high. There are a million jobs that are not high-risk jobs and will not require drug testing. If you want to step up to something like trucking, you must step up your game.

Apologies and excuses do not bring back lost lives.