Failed Pre-employment Drug Screen, Can I Still Go To Driving School?
Topic 6647 | Page 1
Not sure if this bad drug screen will show up on your DAC report or not - since technically - you weren't "hired" in a pre-employment status. If it does you're pretty much screwed.
Your next company may do hair follicle testing - so you're looking at a 6 month window instead of a 30 day.
Since it appears you don't have your CDL yet - and are looking for company sponsored training - I'd lay back for a bit, until you are SURE you can pass ANY KIND OF DRUG TEST (hair follicle included). I'd also lay back a month or so - and pull your own DAC to see if CRST reported the failure. I'm not sure (since this was a pre-hire scenario), if they are required to report this to FMCSA also.
Regardless of how honest you tried to be, when you admitted to the drug use - drug users are notorious for being DISHONEST - so understand that most companies will just take a pass on somebody that can't pass a pre-employment screen (especially a new entrant to the industry) , over someone who can pass.
Keep in mind that all schools (even private/trade-schools) that are going to let you operate a CMV on public roads, are going to drug screen you at some point also, though they probably aren't required to check your DAC.
It's not about how much/how often you smoked - but THAT you smoked. Regardless of how socially (and in many states legally) acceptable weed has become - it's not acceptable under federal law in a commercial driving situation under any circumstance. I'm not going to try and "moralize" here - I'm an ex-user (14+ years sober). So, saying things like "I think they messed with the sample", is just an attempt to justify - you smoked, you dropped, you got caught - END OF STORY. You can "explain away" dropping a hot pee for legal meds with a Doctors note, but any failure for illegal drugs (weed, coke, speed, etc.), is going to be difficult to explain - on the simple basis that they are illegal to begin with.
So again. Check your DAC in a little while, and see if this was reported - and if it was, you are going to have to do a SAP/re-entry program. Lay back until you're sure you can pass ANY KIND OF DRUG SCREEN (hair follicle included) which may mean 6-8 months from last time you used.
Again - not trying to be mean or negative here. You could be a nice guy who takes a couple of puffs at parties once on awhile - or - you could smoke like a Rastafarian. Really isn't important. You "dropped hot" in an industry where this is unacceptable.
Rick
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.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
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.Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
Oh man, a failed drug test, especially one this close, is usually the deathblow to getting your career started. I honestly have to say that I don't think any large carrier will want anything to do with you for a few months minimum.
Try applying for prehires and see if you get any offers. Do this before you give your money to a school. Be absolutely honest with them in your application because they will find out the truth.
Also, I never heard you say you'll never smoke again or anything to that degree. You have to remember that as a driver you have a giant responsibility and constantly have people's lives in your hand. The last thing the industry needs is people who do drugs. So please clean yourself up before considering the industry.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Prehires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
I definitely have no intention on smoking again and to break quite honest I'm baffled as to how I could have possibly failed the test in the first place. I only started smoking around October and would just get a small amount every other week. It would last about 3 days and I wouldn't get more for 2 weeks. I've heard from numerous sources that it only takes 30 days to clean it from your urine. I honestly believe they messed with sample cup but I have no way to prove it. The reason I think this is because the man that went before me was unable to give a full sample, his first attempt he couldn't fill it to the line. His second attempt still didn't fill to the line and wasn't the right temperature (I only know this because they left the door open on his second attempt) I think its possible they poured out what he did give and reused the cup. But that's just my theory. They refused a retest, I asked if there were cameras in the room where you give your sample to the nurse but every attempt for me to try and prove my innocence has been ignored.
Baffle:
A partition or separator within a liquid tank, used to inhibit the flow of fluids within the tank. During acceleration, turning, and braking, a large liquid-filled tank may produce unexpected forces on the vehicle due to the inertia of liquids.
I wouldn't be finding a reason why you failed. The fact is you failed because there was still a trace in your body. It wasn't all gone and you got caught. I wouldn't be pointing the finger at anyone but myself, and definitely not the medical staff. If you didn't smoke none of this would have happened. Respectively, I think you're not taking responsibility for your own actions and instead trying to find an excuse of why you failed.
I definitely take full responsibility as I admitted to using it. But had that initial home test came back positive I wouldn't have wasted my time and hundreds of dollars going to the school until I knew it was gone. I do have another question though. Since this was just pre-employment am I still required to complete the DOT SAP course?
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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.
Since this was just pre-employment am I still required to complete the DOT SAP course?
I think if you want to get a job in the industry you are going to have to do this. You made a huge blunder on your first attempt, and you will have to go the extra mile if you want to straighten this out. It doesn't make any difference to anybody that it was pre-employment. A failed drug test does not vanish and go away - any trucking company you try to get on with will have access to this information now.
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
The home kits you buy have cutoff levels predetermined. They are not always completly accurate as you found out. They look for an active level not traces. Anyway normally it is 30 days to clean out your system, but everyone is a bit different. Go through some prehires , be honest, and maybe someone will give you a shot. You certainly dug a big hole for yourself. Best wishes
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Prehires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Not sure if this bad drug screen will show up on your DAC report or not - since technically - you weren't "hired" in a pre-employment status. If it does you're pretty much screwed.
Your next company may do hair follicle testing - so you're looking at a 6 month window instead of a 30 day.
Since it appears you don't have your CDL yet - and are looking for company sponsored training - I'd lay back for a bit, until you are SURE you can pass ANY KIND OF DRUG TEST (hair follicle included). I'd also lay back a month or so - and pull your own DAC to see if CRST reported the failure. I'm not sure (since this was a pre-hire scenario), if they are required to report this to FMCSA also.
Regardless of how honest you tried to be, when you admitted to the drug use - drug users are notorious for being DISHONEST - so understand that most companies will just take a pass on somebody that can't pass a pre-employment screen (especially a new entrant to the industry) , over someone who can pass.
Keep in mind that all schools (even private/trade-schools) that are going to let you operate a CMV on public roads, are going to drug screen you at some point also, though they probably aren't required to check your DAC.
It's not about how much/how often you smoked - but THAT you smoked. Regardless of how socially (and in many states legally) acceptable weed has become - it's not acceptable under federal law in a commercial driving situation under any circumstance. I'm not going to try and "moralize" here - I'm an ex-user (14+ years sober). So, saying things like "I think they messed with the sample", is just an attempt to justify - you smoked, you dropped, you got caught - END OF STORY. You can "explain away" dropping a hot pee for legal meds with a Doctors note, but any failure for illegal drugs (weed, coke, speed, etc.), is going to be difficult to explain - on the simple basis that they are illegal to begin with.
So again. Check your DAC in a little while, and see if this was reported - and if it was, you are going to have to do a SAP/re-entry program. Lay back until you're sure you can pass ANY KIND OF DRUG SCREEN (hair follicle included) which may mean 6-8 months from last time you used.
Again - not trying to be mean or negative here. You could be a nice guy who takes a couple of puffs at parties once on awhile - or - you could smoke like a Rastafarian. Really isn't important. You "dropped hot" in an industry where this is unacceptable.
Rick
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.
CMV:
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business, is involved in interstate commerce, and may fit any of these descriptions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards
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.Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
I appreciate all the replies. I have already thought of checking to see if this shows up on DAC or not and requested my background from HireRight before I had even left CRST. The report tells me there is no DAC available but then on another page says CRST has given info to DAC about pre employment drug screen results. I suppose I will just have to stick it out for a while and complete the SAP required course and go from there.
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.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
I appreciate all the replies. I have already thought of checking to see if this shows up on DAC or not and requested my background from HireRight before I had even left CRST. The report tells me there is no DAC available but then on another page says CRST has given info to DAC about pre employment drug screen results. I suppose I will just have to stick it out for a while and complete the SAP required course and go from there.
I would also start going to NA meetings and documenting them for just in case situations... Not saying it will help but does show that you are trying to quit and taking all the right steps
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.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
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Long story short, I went to CRST in Iowa...took the drug screen with no concerns. I did previously smoke weed and it was just over 1 month that I last smoked before having to do the drug screen. I used a home test days before I left and it showed negative for THC. I wanted to know if this pre-employment screen will keep me from obtaining my CDL at another school? They did both a strip test and lab test for CRST and I was not sent home until a week after. Which means I.must have passed the strip test.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: