Will Past Drug Use Affect A Career In Trucking?
Topic 3276 | Page 1
Assuming it's on your military record, trucking companies are going to see it and it's definitely going to be a problem for at least some of them.
What you'll want to do is one of two things:
1) Apply for Company-Sponsored Training . If one of those companies accepts you, they'll train you and then put you to work upon graduating from their program.
2) Apply for pre-hires before committing to an independent truck driving school. We have an excellent article on Understanding Pre-Hire Letters if you're unfamiliar with the process. If you can get a minimum of two or three pre-hires then you know you'll be able to land a job after graduating from CDL training.
Most importantly, if that charge is on your record you're going to have to be 100% honest about it because trucking companies will find it. And if they catch you lying or covering something up on your application it goes straight into the garbage.
Some companies have a no-tolerance policy on any drug charges of any sort so they'll write you off completely. Others will likely be willing to work with you because it's already about 9 years old. If your criminal background is clean and your driving record is pretty decent then you'll almost certainly find an opportunity if you dig hard enough and you're persistent about it.
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.
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.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thanks brett, I appreciate your input
It will also depend a little on the drug charge. If it is just for smoking dope, it will be easier than if they charged you with manufacturing or possession with intent to distribute.
Dave
It will also depend a little on the drug charge. If it is just for smoking dope, it will be easier than if they charged you with manufacturing or possession with intent to distribute.
Dave
Excellent point.
I just smoked, was told by a recruiter i would never make it in trucking and was curious if he was right or if it was just his perspective
That dosent sound true at all. I have way worse stuff though none if it is in military files. Just keep applying lots of places. Someone will eventually be able to overlook a 10 yr old indiscretion. Just make sure that past behavior remains in the past.
You might have a little bit of a uphill road depending on how your were discharged but you can find a way around it if you don't use anymore...that's the big thing you have to take into account how and why the rules are so strict as they are. I would submit app's to Companies or you could go talk to a Placement Director at a Local Truck Driving Schools and ask them would they be able to get you in with a Good Company
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
What about a hazmat endorsement? Will I be eligible to receive one? My military file says "general discharge / misconduct-misuse of marijuana"
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
KT., I don't foresee you having a problem passing the background check for Hazmat or even a TWIC card. There are plenty of people who have a minor criminal background who have obtained them both. The type of things that will really throw up a red flag on those particular background checks are trafficking charges and terroristic threats. I'm pretty sure there are some folks who have felony backgrounds who can pass those background checks, it all depends on the nature of their crime.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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i got out the military in 2005 from smoking weed, if i get a hazmat or just in general is that going to keep me outta trucking.. no record for drugs other than that
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations