Advice Needed For Finding Work After Failed Drug Test

I’m not going to comment on CR England.

But, I would agree with Robs line if thinking. I’d give Western Express or Carolina Cargo a shout. Be honest about the test.

See what happens. Worse they say us no thanks. Best they say is welcome aboard.

Good luck!

Honestly to expect $800 take home a week to start is reaching. that is $50,000 plus per year. Most make less their first year, even at higher paying companies. It takes time to fine tune the trip planning and time management. As someone else stated, you are putting pressure on yourself. Adding fuel to the fire was that they "found" it...meaning you hid it. Some companies will think that is worse than the pot.

Lesson to be learned here...be honest on the application and don't do drugs shortly before trying to enter trucking.

Something else to consider is this: CR England is not hiring you...they are inviting you to orientation to scrutinize you and decide if they want to train and hire you. You are asking if you should try a company who is willing to consider you. But you have no idea if you can pass their orientation either. So the "should i go to CR England" might not be the right question to be asking yourself.

You need to have a back up plan of what to do if you get sent home from CR England. It seems like you jumped into this without a real plan or plan B. You spent money on the apnea test you might not have had to do at another company. You flew into MO instead of going greyhound and paid an Uber from St Louis to Springfield because you didnt get accurate car rental information. That is a lot of wasted money, so it might be a good idea to sit down with your partner and come up with a plan and alternatives.

For those of you reading this, many companies and military COs read the forums and Facebook pages. So using your real name to discuss things is not always a good idea either. Should a company consider something you posted to be unprofessional, you might not get that job. I know quite a few military guys who were reprimanded for posting pictures of them drinking and partying with friends. Social media can be great, but it can hinder also.

I wish you luck and hope things work out for you.

Good thoughts and advice, Rainy. As always, thank you.

I read .35 cpm on their site.

where on their site did you see that? i ask cause i couldnt find it anywhere. last i knew of, they started at 27cpm and trainers with 6 mos OTR got 34cpm for teaming.

so please make sure you have accurate info before making a decision.

I need to make at least $800 a week after taxes. What are your thoughts?

I think you've got to really sit back and reconsider what you're doing. You have so many different things going on that you've got to sort all this out and evaluate what your priorities are.

First, I don't think you can expect to make that kind of money during your rookie year at C.R. England. It's possible, but unlikely.

Second, I'm fairly certain you will have to be a team driver with them. You keep talking about your partner riding with you, but there's no riders on a team truck.

I'm not sure this is the best thing for you right now. Maybe waiting it out for one year and then going to CFI is your best option. Also during that waiting time I recommend you work out some sort of budget where you aren't required to gross 50,000 dollars for the year.

Once you are an OTR driver you may not really need the things that you are currently paying for. Can you sell your car and pay cash for an old beater? You won't be needing a car but for maybe 20 - 25 days out of the year. Maybe you really don't need one at all. Do you really need a personal residence for 20 - 25 days out of the year? Maybe not.

I wish you had told us about the failed drug test - we probably could have given some guidance and kept you from your current situation.

Also you've got to take seriously how much your first year is going to be an education from the school of hard knocks. It's really tough out here on new drivers. We love them and are constantly doing what we can to help, but most of them just don't make it. You already got kicked in the teeth by something you apparently thought wasn't going to be important.

Sit back and re-evaluate your whole situation, your desires, and your needs. All of those have got to mesh together. If they don't work together in harmony then you'll have to make some adjuystments to one or the other, or maybe all three.

I understand your frustration, I got sent home three dfferent times! You can make this happen, but getting past that failed drug test is going to be monumental.

I'm going to say one more thing, and I pray you don't take offense. You know that I know some of your family history. Illegal drugs have caused you guys a lot of pain over the years. Here's another slap in the face from Marijuana. You absolutely can't do this job while smoking, even casually. I've been random tested ten times in the past three years. You cannot hide it. If you manage to get into this rewarding career, it will be something you don't want to screw up. If you get booted out for drugs after getting in, the door is darn near closed for good.

I wish you the best.

I have quit smoking for good. It's not worth it.

I don't know where I saw .35cpm and I can't find it again.

If I don't do this now, I have no idea what I'll do in the meantime. I left my career and can't go back to that job because he wants it to go to someone who wants to be in the field. I can't argue that.

I want this. I'm just scared. Gun shy. My thoughts are, "so what if I dont make that much at first, I can get there." But, my he will likely have other thoughts.

On the website, I think it says you can drive solo, but I will be double checking that.

I'll keep you all posted.

I want this. I'm just scared. Gun shy. My thoughts are, "so what if I dont make that much at first, I can get there."

We understand your feelings and doubts. Everyone goes through that. You are correct that you can get to the salary level you need, but be aware, it is on you to get to that level. It is not going to be on the company.

This business rewards those who accomplish things. Our pay is merit based. It is completely different from working by the hour, and there is no such thing as overtime. If you manage to get to where you are grossing fifty thousand during that rookie year, you might as well settle it now that you will be working something like 80 hours per week. Are you prepared for that kind of schedule?

We are glad to see your determination, but I want you to go in with your eyes wide open. This is not easy. It gets easier as you learn and develop some street smarts, but that first year will be brutal. You start out as a nobody, and the only way you get recognized as worthy of trust is to keep consistently getting things done.

The learning curve is steep, and the rewards are there for those who can manage to push through that first year as productive and safe professionals.

You have been talking to a lot of companies in a short period of time. you need to get written confirmation from the recruiter on specific pay and solo/team and rider policy.

im pretty sure it was CFI that starts at 35cpm and raised to 40cpm after so many miles...like 100,000 or something. keep in mind training pay is ALWAYS less than starting pay.

seriously ponder if it makes more sense for you to wait a year to go to CFI with higher pay than CRE or to try CRE now. are there other avenues you can try to work elsewhere for a year? do you qualify for any sort of assistance...even schooling? how will you maintain your doctors and prescriptions which you will need to pass a physical? can family help out?

None of us can tell you what to do. we dont know your finances and responsibilities. and it isnt our business. but you need to budget as old school said. can you downsize your house or apartment? if so how much will it save you? can you switch car insurance or home/renters to save money? what do you have that you can sell?

you have major decisions that need to be made by you and you alone.