Trying To Start CDL School But Running Into A Temporarily Unavoidable Roadblock...

I'm looking into starting school, and to be honest I need it to happen...last week. Money is tight and I've been thinking about this for years and its... Just time. The problem is that I've been on low dose pain medication for years now. I applied at CR England and was told that I'd have to be off of the medication for a minimum of 3 months before they'd even consider starting me in school. Quitting the meds isn't an issue, if it's a requirement then so be it. It's done. It's the 3 month waiting period that has me super worried. Are all training companies the same? Or just them specifically? I'm on borrowed time financially. Waiting that long is really going to be a problem. Like a "living in an alley" kinda problem. Does anyone know? Help please!!!

now if you Don't need to take the pain meds "DONT" ,,if you medically NEED them ,,,then dont tell the Co's ...if you can drive w/ the meds in you the that up to you ....

Ok so let me get this straight. You're saying if you need to take narcotics that are deemed illegal for commercial driving just do it and don't tell anyone, right? Well thanks for that Jon. If we're lucky that advice won't actually kill anyone, it will just land some people in jail or ruin their careers.

Buddy, this isn't the 80's anymore. You gotta get with the program. I started driving in '93 and there is a long list of things I used to do that would never fly in this day and age. Times change and you have to change with them. I know the history of this industry very well. I know how it used to be. But this is almost 2015 and you have to go by today's rules. Not to mention, you're not advising guys and gals that have driven for 25 years. These are people who are brand new to the industry, most of which haven't even started school yet. You're going to tell someone before they even know how many wheels are on an 18 wheeler to take narcotics and keep it on the down low? Yeah.....let's not ruin people's careers or lives like that. Let's come up with a better solution.

Cheyenne, speak with your doctor about getting an alternative medicine that is legal for commercial driving. Then do whatever it takes to get your career underway safely and legally. If you have to wait, you have to wait. I'm not sure what the legalities will be but I would speak with your doctor about how long it takes the current medicine to safely leave your system. Speak with different companies about their requirements. Be honest with everyone and do whatever it takes to get your career off to a great start. It might be out of your system safely within 30 days, it might take longer. I have no idea. So look into that.

Believe me, if you think you're struggling financially now wait until you see what it takes to get a job after failing a drug test or getting caught falsifying your medical paperwork. You have to think long term. Don't make risky decisions because you want to drive a few weeks sooner than you can legally. Do it right. You'll be glad you did. In this day and age it would be a miracle to find a decent paying job being offered as a "second chance" to someone who screwed up. Don't put yourself in that position.

Well, I've been working my phone like a mad woman the last couple of days and finally got a hold of CRST. I need to ask a few more questions before I completely commit, but from what I've been told as long as I'm off of the meds 72 hrs before I get into a truck I should be fine. I need to make sure to verify that one more time and have it sent in written form to me. I don't believe in lying or withholding the truth about what's going on so that's just not a route I'd be willing to take. These are meds I've been prescribed for a back injury so I do need something, but it doesn't have to be a narcotic. But if everything goes as planned I should be starting school this coming Monday :-) @Brett, it's not just a matter of being broke. It's really super close to being homeless. I refuse to lie, but waiting 3 months is simply out of the question.

If you can get a note from your Dr. stating that this med doesn't cause you any side effects and you are capable of operating a motor vehicle then you could possibly have an in. It depends if you can get the Dr. to state that and what med it is. Remember not to get any refills, they'll show up on your drug record.

The medication is norco. Which is a narcotic. The guy I talked to that deals with these types of things (not the recruiter) was very firm about the 3 month thing. So I don't think it's negotiable with England. I'm just wondering if all of the companies require the same wait period.

Remember not to get any refills, they'll show up on your drug record.

What is a drug record? Medications and medical history is confidential......between a patient and their doctor. Trucking companies don't look up your past medication history.

Remember not to get any refills, they'll show up on your drug record.

What is a drug record? Medications and medical history is confidential......between a patient and their doctor. Trucking companies don't look up your past medication history.

The reason they said 3 months is cuz they do the hair drug test find a company that only does the pee test.... Central/swift only does the pee drug test

Well the DOT physical Dr. has access to said records and if they don't like the drugs your on your not driving. Norco, good stuff I was taking 2 10mg at a pop every four hrs a year ago, back probs.

Well the DOT physical Dr. has access to said records and if they don't like the drugs your on your not driving. Norco, good stuff I was taking 2 10mg at a pop every four hrs a year ago, back probs.

Yes but that's where the note from the Dr stating you are no longer taking those meds come in. I said what I said cuz cr england does the hair drug test which goes back 90 days which is why england said they wouldn't take Cheyenne for 3 months.... Now if you get a note from your Dr stating as of now Cheyenne is no longer taking these meds and able to drive a truck and show the company and tell them upfront about it you won't have to wait 3 months

I can understand them wanting to make sure I'm off of the medication. I completely get that part. I just financially really can't wait that long. I'm applying at other companies in hopes that maybe their requirements aren't quite so strict. I've put this on the back burner long enough and now it's this or nothing lol. It's unfortunate but it's just the way it is. The other issue I'm leary about us being a female driver. I've heard some pretty iffy things, but, I'm gonna make this happen one way or another. I wanted to do it for too long.

I can understand them wanting to make sure I'm off of the medication. I completely get that part. I just financially really can't wait that long. I'm applying at other companies in hopes that maybe their requirements aren't quite so strict. I've put this on the back burner long enough and now it's this or nothing lol. It's unfortunate but it's just the way it is. The other issue I'm leary about us being a female driver. I've heard some pretty iffy things, but, I'm gonna make this happen one way or another. I wanted to do it for too long.

I know that swift only does the urine drug test and if you stop taking them now by the time you get there its out of your system but you still need to tell them about them and get a Dr note stating you no longer take them and make sure the company that you choose only does the urine drug test cuz if you show up and they do a hair test and you will fail and that's the last thing you need cuz that will probably kill your chances of being a truck driver...... Now you can use the search engine here on this site and type in UA vs and click on the link.... That link is to a thread that has a list of companies that do urine or hair drug test and apply to all of the ones that don't do the hair test and keep calling them till you get a bus ticket...... As for being a female don't even worry about that there are plenty of female truckers... If you want this bad enough and put in the work to get yourself there you will overcome any obstacle........ Good luck and hope everything works out for you

I'm looking into starting school, and to be honest I need it to happen...last week. Money is tight and I've been thinking about this for years and its... Just time. The problem is that I've been on low dose pain medication for years now. I applied at CR England and was told that I'd have to be off of the medication for a minimum of 3 months before they'd even consider starting me in school. Quitting the meds isn't an issue, if it's a requirement then so be it. It's done. It's the 3 month waiting period that has me super worried. Are all training companies the same? Or just them specifically? I'm on borrowed time financially. Waiting that long is really going to be a problem. Like a "living in an alley" kinda problem. Does anyone know? Help please!!!

Ok lets get a few things straight here friend ,,,

1st ,, on the 5 pannel DOT Urine drug pannel will "NOT "show "SYNTHETIC " drugs such as NORCO / Oxycontin / fentanly / hydrocodone ..tramadol they will show up on a HAIR FOLICLE " up to 30 days " ..

if you have a legitimate medical necessity , cronic pain fybromyalgia etc ,,you can have your Dr. put you on Neurontin / or Fentanly patch & still drive .it doesnt show up on a 5 pannel DOT urine screen ,,

I have an inoperable tumor in my spine inside a syrinx ( causes me cronic pain "some weakness / numbness ") and will cause paralysis from chest down eventually. this was found after I was rearended in 2008 ,,,the pain never subsided ,,,5 specialists ,,and wa La ..a TUMOR ...but I want to drive ( I'm on disability too ) and can work under the ticket to work program & in idaho I can earn 1,000$ a mo. & collect SSDI ..Win /WIN ,

but after 34 yrs driving I have found several co.'s that allow me to drive 3-4 days a month ,,and I'm on fentanly patch I change it every 2 days & take tramadol as well . and have passed DOT urine tests at 2 of them so far ,,it doesnt ding me out !!!

now if you Don't need to take the pain meds "DONT" ,,if you medically NEED them ,,,then dont tell the Co's ...if you can drive w/ the meds in you the that up to you ....