Drug Questions

I see so many topics here about drug use and failed tests

If you have used drugs and are worried about this issue, find another profession

Trying to get around this issue is not going to work.

I think that most people's focus is just trying to pass a test. It needs to be to adopt a lifestyle that doesn't include drugs.

I don't maintain that position out of judgment, it's just painfully obvious. If you're just wanting to pass a test it means that you have reservations about adopting a lifestyle that is drug free.

Like any test, it's designed to check for knowledge or a condition/ mindset you already have. My guess is that people starting in this industry who have failed test issues have difficulties getting any skilled trade jobs and or jobs above the lowest amount of responsibilities possible.

I think that most people's focus is just trying to pass a test. It needs to be to adopt a lifestyle that doesn't include drugs.

I'd be willing to bet that with at least three quarters of the people out there who fail company drug tests, it's exactly like you say. Unfortunately, for the rest it's a lot more complicated than that.

I can speak for my own experience when it comes to this. The problem has less to do with someone's commitment to lifestyle habits compatible with a skilled trade, and more to do with a lack of reliable information combined with drug testing methods that can trace a person's use of a substance back to well before they even considered a new occupation.

Some of these people may have even held down jobs requiring just as much skill and responsibility but were not subject to random or pre-employment drug tests. It might be hard to imagine if you've worked mainly in a sector of the economy where drug tests are mandatory but in others- even ones of high importance, they aren't.

When you consider this age of medical marijuana and CBD, such persons could have taken something medicinally, as opposed to recreationally, been extremely judicious about its use, and not have even broken any laws.

The worst part is someone may have tried something a few times, decided it wasn't for them, and never touched it again. Or, they may have bought something, as was my case, from a gas station (next to the stackers, energy drinks, and tobacco) but touted by reputable medical professionals across the board as an effective yet benign treatment for a number of common conditions, not realizing it contained an added chemical that WILL show up in a drug test.. and if it's a hair follicle test, that may be long after they completely forgot about it.

Don't get me wrong, people with a "but it's just weed" attitude don't belong in any profession involving heavy machinery- plain and simple. I've worked enough jobs where safety was the no. 1 concern to know. But, should a person be penalized for something they did over a year ago when operating heavy machinery wasn't even on their radar? Because this is sadly the case for a handful of people who fail company hair follicle tests- after they'd committed themselves to adopting lifestyle habits appropriate to the job. Yes, a substance CAN show up over a year after it's use.

For the time being DOT regulation only requires a UA. That's why there are some companies that don't require pre-hire hair follicle tests. However, from a company standpoint it just makes more sense to eliminate anyone who might be that much more of a liability to the company.

Every new hire is a liability until they learn enough of the trade to be an asset. It's in a company's interest to weed out those who would continue to be a liability in the long run. That includes anyone with a "but it's just weed" attitude. They get shown the door and that's it for them. One less deadly fool on the road.

Sadly in this scenario a few people who might have excelled in an industry are done before they even started. All because they did something that might not have even been a problem before they considered a trade like trucking.

They did everything they thought they needed to, committed themselves, and had the right attitude. They waited long enough to make sure they were guaranteed an opportunity, but because they didn't realize they WEREN'T actually in the clear after 90 days, or 6 months, or in some cases a year after they used something, they paid the price of an irresponsible fool.

When you consider this age of medical marijuana and CBD, such persons could have taken something medicinally, as opposed to recreationally, been extremely judicious about its use, and not have even broken any laws.

Try again. You break federal law every time you partake in "it's just weed." THATS where my issue with it stems from. Beyond those of lack of testing time from usage, and quantifying usage.

Try again. You break federal law every time you partake in "it's just weed." THATS where my issue with it stems from. Beyond those of lack of testing time from usage, and quantifying usage.

"CBD Use in the United States In 2018, the U.S. Congress passed and signed into law the Agriculture Improvement Act. This law removed hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act, effectively legalizing CBD if it comes from hemp.2 However, a few states have not removed hemp from their state’s controlled substances acts, so legality of CBD products differs across states."

Taken from the CDC website. In other words, unless it's banned in the state where it's being used, it's legal on both a federal and state level.

This doesn't mean I'm advocating its use..

Simply stating the law as of 2018.

Yeah that's some nice references you posted there. Be sure to tell everyone else to put that in their appeal when the fail the tests. CDC and the FMCSA are two different entities. Don't forget the CDC wanted everyone vexed and 17 boosters.

...right at this moment, while people are bickering about drug tests on the internet.. someone is flying the wrong way down I-85 tripping their brains out on the shrooms they found in the cow pasture next to the TA Travel Center in Lake City, FL.

Lucky (or not) for them, their drug of choice won't show up on a hair follicle test.

Who's bickering? Who originally brought this quandary to us here on TT?

Illegal drugs and substances don't belong in this industry. Never have and never will. Those that don't do research before trying to enter the industry, then fail due to poor choices receive what they should.

Have your wife and two children killed by another commercial truck driver that was blitzed out of their senses on cocaine and alcohol some day. Perhaps you will have thoughts similar to me.

Yeah that's some nice references you posted there. Be sure to tell everyone else to put that in their appeal when the fail the tests. CDC and the FMCSA are two different entities. Don't forget the CDC wanted everyone vexed and 17 boosters.

I think I'm being taken out of context here.

I was merely stating federal law. Not for drivers or pre-hires or even federal employees, but for regular citizens not employed in an occupation requiring a drug test. You've take things I've said out of context a lot and commented on my posts with condemnation. As a matter of fact, I see a lot of your posts, and you seem like an angry bitter person with too much time on your hands. Makes me think you're sitting at a truck stop somewhere with no loads watching news or one of those toxic political rant jockies.

I'm just waiting to go off to an orientation. After that I probably won't be on here ranting and looking for people new to this job that I talk down to in order to feel better about my own personal inadequacies.

That makes me feel better after your analysis. Non-drivers know a great deal. Your ignorance is obvious. I do know I have personally assisted more drivers in real life by than you have posts on this site by a factor of 10.