Profile For Rusty W.

Brett (owner of the TruckingTruth.com site) wanted us to try something new to help all you out. So, we are opening up the floor for you to speak directly with a recruiter to answer any questions you might have. If it’s something about the training process – we will answer it directly. If it’s a question more of the lifestyle/day-to-day of trucking, we will get an answer from an experienced driver who has been through our training program for you. Our goal is for this to be a positive and helpful thread. So, how can we help???

Do you hair follicle test. My PRESCRIPTION medication is a narcotic, but I don't take it anymore since I got my CDL so I'm trying to find work as a recent grad. But the hair test will pick up my doctor prescribed medication and I'll be sent home.

If you take any narcotic prescription medication get off them now. Most companies will not hire you even if you have a script for it. And they hair test back 6 months. I didn't find this out until it was too late.

Rusty asks:

Off topic question, but what's your hometime like in a walmart dedicated route? And how's the pay?

Home time depends on the carrier and the D.C., with us; 1 day off each 7 day week. Basically a 34hr reset.

Pay...first year run rate of 50k, second year 60-65 is possible. An experienced, top performing Walmart Dedicated driver can make 70-75k. It takes some time to get to that level, but very possible if you learn the account and run you butt off.

Search on Walmart upper left hand corner. There are a few of us on here working for different carriers in different regions.

Just an update but the company I was applying for turned me down. They said I cannot take my prescription medication and drive for them because it is a narcotic and they said they do a hair test which goes back 6 months. So I won't be able to apply with them until it's been atleast a half year.

Also I'd like to add that, when I took my DOT physical it asked me to list prescription medicene which I noted on their both including the narcotic one. I won't be able to update my DOT documentation for 2 years to have those meds taken off my dot physical documentation so it looks like I won't be driving for a long time.

Really wish I knew this information beforehand. I would have just not listed my prescriptions and then I would have just stopped taking them.

Rusty part of the exam is to not only understand what prescribed Meds you or on but also why.

I suggest to check out this link:

FMCSA banned substances

See if your meds are on any of the CFR lists.

Hey G-Town, again sorry to jump off topic but I've been wanting to talk to you. I sent you another reply and I'm not sure yet if you received it. I just started with SWIFT and was supposed to be OTR solo. Right off the bat they started giving me load offerings on the Walmart dedicated routes. Then they offered me a spot. Today I accepted and now they are going to put me on reefers too. I've already got the more important questions answered before I gave them my yes, but surely more will arise. Anyway, even if we don't talk more directly I will lurk and read your posting history. Don't worry, the voices tell me I'm quite sane. It's everyone else that's mad. :)

Off topic question, but what's your hometime like in a walmart dedicated route? And how's the pay?

Rusty part of the exam is to not only understand what prescribed Meds you or on but also why.

I suggest to check out this link:

FMCSA banned substances

See if your meds are on any of the CFR lists.

Well the clonazepam is a pill that treats primarily anxiety but it also functions as an anti-depressant and a anti-seizure. But I don't take it for seizures. I take it for mild anxiety.

Just a quick update. I called swift and asked them about that sort of thing and the recruiter said they only do urine testing and that for my prescriptions he said just call my medical examiner that issued my medical card and see what he says to make sure it's okay to use these prescriptions.

Should I call and ask? Or should I just forget it and go do the **** test and get hired on?

I appreciate the feedback.

I sent a text message to the woman who is my recruiter or whatever. The individual that oversees my application process. She mentioned that I needed to note any prescription medications I take, but I didn't see an area on the application form for that so I was unable to fill out that portion. So in my text I told her that, and then I clarified what medications I take so as to avoid any confusion during orientation.

I'm waiting to see what her response is. If anything, she'll tell me no I can't be taking those meds while working for said company and I can wait until my system is clean and I can reapply later. Or she could (hopefully) tell me that if I have proof of prescription that they'll accept me as an employee.

It sucks because I need to be working now, and I don't want to just pick up a stupid part time dish washer job while I'm waiting to get clean. What a bummer man.

Okay so I just completed truck driving school and I start orientation for the company in about 7 days.

I am concerned about the drug test. I take two PRESCRIBED medications by a doctor.

One is an SSRI called Lexapro (https://www.drugs.com/lexapro.html) the other is a Benzo called Clonazepam (https://www.drugs.com/clonazepam.html)

The company does a Urine and Hair test.

Here are my concerns: 1) IF I tell them I take these medications, they'll deny me employment and send me home. 2) IF I don't tell them I take these medications, I'll fail the drug test and it'll be held against me with future employers. 3) Even though I have the medication prescribed to me, my doctor will not write me a doctors note for it (he's an ass)

What should I do? I have a big decision to make and I'm not sure what the best path to take would be.

What I'm thinking is I'll go to the orientation and then tell them that I take the medication so they can decide if they want to hire me or not. That way it won't be held against me by the DCA or whatever it's called. Since I can't acquire a doctors note, I'm going to at the very least bring my prescription bottles with me that have my name, address, doctor and medication information.

Please help me. I've been wanting to get my CDL for over a decade and I finally got it but I don't want it to go down the drain because of my prescription medication.