I Quit The Pot, And I Want To Drive Trucks.

Swift turned me down for their school because they wanted 3 years of drug free-ness. Is this the policy of most or all trucking companies? No one likes a liar, but I want to start working right away. I'm thinking of signing up at my local CDL school.

Welcome Benjamin. The "official" take is that all trucking companies want people who have never even considered using illegal drugs or alcohol. The "realistic" take is that they require people to pass a physical and drug screen and most often have a policy of no alcohol within 24 hours of driving and no illegal drug use of any sort ever.

Now the problem you're going to run into is hair follicle testing. Many of the major companies have switched to hair follicle testing and while there's no exact answer for how far they go back the general consensus seems to be about 90 days.

What they'll require for a hair follicle test is hair that is at least 1 1/2 (one and one half) inches long. If they can't get it from your head they'll search elsewhere on your body. If they can't find any hair long enough you can't take the test so you're sent packing.

My advice would be to wait at least 30 days from the time you quit smoking, shave your head, and let it grow back to at least 1 1/2 inches. Or instead of shaving your head just make sure there is no hair left from within 30 days of the time you were smoking. But I would say it's going to take a good 4 months from the time you quit smoking until you can pass a drug test, assuming of course you cut your hair properly.

Keep in mind also that any prescription drugs will be considered illegal drugs if you can't produce a prescription for it. Their tests are very thorough so assume they'll turn up just about everything.

We have a ton of information on Alcohol and Drug Policies & Testing in our wiki.

Welcome Benjamin. The "official" take is that all trucking companies want people who have never even considered using illegal drugs or alcohol. The "realistic" take is that they require people to pass a physical and drug screen and most often have a policy of no alcohol within 24 hours of driving and no illegal drug use of any sort ever.

Now the problem you're going to run into is hair follicle testing. Many of the major companies have switched to hair follicle testing and while there's no exact answer for how far they go back the general consensus seems to be about 90 days.

What they'll require for a hair follicle test is hair that is at least 1 1/2 (one and one half) inches long. If they can't get it from your head they'll search elsewhere on your body. If they can't find any hair long enough you can't take the test so you're sent packing.

My advice would be to wait at least 30 days from the time you quit smoking, shave your head, and let it grow back to at least 1 1/2 inches. Or instead of shaving your head just make sure there is no hair left from within 30 days of the time you were smoking. But I would say it's going to take a good 4 months from the time you quit smoking until you can pass a drug test, assuming of course you cut your hair properly.

Keep in mind also that any prescription drugs will be considered illegal drugs if you can't produce a prescription for it. Their tests are very thorough so assume they'll turn up just about everything.

We have a ton of information on Alcohol and Drug Policies & Testing in our wiki.

Thanks for the very helpful answer. I'm grateful that you didn't throw in any mean-spirited comments as well. I guess I'll just wait my 3 years and prove to them and myself that I don't need drugs. Thanks again.

Thanks for the very helpful answer. I'm grateful that you didn't throw in any mean-spirited comments as well. I guess I'll just wait my 3 years and prove to them and myself that I don't need drugs. Thanks again.

Wait! You don't need 3 years. You only need 3 months! Come back! Don't leave!

Okay, okay, you're an awesome dude, thanks for the encouragement! Truck driving sounds like a pretty awesome job to me. I want to buy some audio books and listen to smart people on the road. How does that sound?

Okay, okay, you're an awesome dude, thanks for the encouragement! Truck driving sounds like a pretty awesome job to me. I want to buy some audio books and listen to smart people on the road. How does that sound?

Sounds like me. Thankfully: My phone can both record, and play back audio!!! Lol.

Jokes aside: Shave your head, stimulate the growth, avoid drugs (2nd hand included), and get out there!!! Call 'em recruiters. Sell yourself. It's fun, easy, AND rewarding! :)

I love my job. CRST only does UA testing. Depending on various factors (water intake, metabolism, BMI , fat content): 3-90 days wait.

Haha, that took me a second. I salute you.

I figure by the time I'm done with CDL school I'll probably be ready to pass their tests. There's a whole bunch of openings with a lot of companies around here in Reno, NV. I'm feeling pretty optimistic about my chances.

Hard work and money are the drugs for me from now on! Haha

Haha, that took me a second. I salute you.

I figure by the time I'm done with CDL school I'll probably be ready to pass their tests. There's a whole bunch of openings with a lot of companies around here in Reno, NV. I'm feeling pretty optimistic about my chances.

Hard work and money are the drugs for me from now on! Haha

There you go. :)

You must pass a drug test to obtain a medical card, to obtain a permit, to obtain a CDL.

Can do, will do thanks dude.

At least your willing to quit. I just had a conversation with one of my friends this last weekend about him wanting to get a CDL.. after telling him about the drug testing procedures CDL drivers have to go through with not only Pre-employment but being subjected to random tests he decided he's not ready to give up weed so he will stay at his minimum wage dead end job at Walmart. Made me so mad.