Blacklisted From Company For Interview Question

Hey all. I've been considering getting into trucking for the last few years. Last year I got hired on for a companies training program but cancelled last minute because I decided to continue with my current job for the time being. This year I've been regretting that and a couple months ago I put in an application with a different company. They immediately started spamming me with promo emails and I was getting calls from the recruiter daily. I got back to him and he started asking me screening questions. One of them was, have you ever completed a drug test for another trucking company and I said yes, because I had to do one the prior year when I almost started with the other company. The recruiter's tone immediately changed and he rushed to get me off the phone, saying thanks for my honesty but he would have to check with his supervisor for permission to move forward.

After a couple days of no return call, I sent an email asking for further explanation of the issue, as I've never failed a drug test and would be happy to share any results. I didn't get a response. The promo emails also completely stopped. I sent another email this week and no response. You'd think the guy would at least have told me they weren't interested and given me a reason.

Is this normal to be blacklisted from a company for just taking, but not failing, another companies drug test? I'm going to call the companies main phone line and explain the issue to a different recruiter and see if I can get a clear answer. Maybe this particular recruiter just doesn't want to deal with me.

Hey all. I've been considering getting into trucking for the last few years. Last year I got hired on for a companies training program but cancelled last minute because I decided to continue with my current job for the time being. This year I've been regretting that and a couple months ago I put in an application with a different company. They immediately started spamming me with promo emails and I was getting calls from the recruiter daily. I got back to him and he started asking me screening questions. One of them was, have you ever completed a drug test for another trucking company and I said yes, because I had to do one the prior year when I almost started with the other company. The recruiter's tone immediately changed and he rushed to get me off the phone, saying thanks for my honesty but he would have to check with his supervisor for permission to move forward.

After a couple days of no return call, I sent an email asking for further explanation of the issue, as I've never failed a drug test and would be happy to share any results. I didn't get a response. The promo emails also completely stopped. I sent another email this week and no response. You'd think the guy would at least have told me they weren't interested and given me a reason.

Is this normal to be blacklisted from a company for just taking, but not failing, another companies drug test? I'm going to call the companies main phone line and explain the issue to a different recruiter and see if I can get a clear answer. Maybe this particular recruiter just doesn't want to deal with me.

You aren't being blacklisted. It's not a big deal for them to drop you, or respond nor give you a reason why they are not hiring you. That's quite common in the trucking world.

My stepdaughter is in HR and they don't give reasons why they are not hiring somebody even after talking with them. Many times they do not respond and let you know that you are not being considered. Actually it's been that way for 15+ years in the business sector.

So, you never went through the training? Who were you going to train with a year ago? What company did you talk to this year that stopped talking to you?

As for the company that dropped you, just leave it be. It's not a big deal really in the grand scheme of things. Just get on with trying to go with a company that will train you and put you out on the road. You're wasting too much energy over this company.

I don't want to give a name out because it would feel like I'm trying to trash them or something. I tried to go with the company from last year but they weren't having it after I cancelled, I don't blame them.

I totally get the company passing on me, I was more just wondering why it mattered if I drug tested at a another company. If I was willing to provide results. But yeah, maybe he just had a ton of candidates and doesn't want to mess with trying to figure out if I had a negative or positive result on that drug test.

Thanks for the reply.

I don't want to give a name out because it would feel like I'm trying to trash them or something

The fact that you don't want to trash a company is respectable. We are not too fond of that type of stuff. As long as you stick to the facts and present your experience in an objective way there is nothing to worry about. Everybody has different experiences with recruiters and such. Some positive some negative.

It is beneficial to you and other members here to name a company that you might have a problem with. Why? Because there might be experienced drivers here who have worked or currently work for the company you mention. They might be able to offer an explanation that clears up any possible miscommunication that may have occurred.

As long as you keep your comment respectful there is no need to worry.

I went for training with a large trucking company as well and I was sent home because of a physical issue. When I called another company they told me that my last employer "Terminated" me during training. It sounds harsh but all it really means is that you no longer have a relationship with the company. Unfortunately many companies will skip to the next application and not give you a second thought. This other company told me to go to Driver IQ and register with them. This is kind of a clearing house for employers and it will tell you what other potential employees are seeing. You can also give your side of the story for the record but either way don't take it personally, it seems like the trucking industry can be cut-throat and I guess if they're going to trust you with thousands of dollars in equipment and goods then they have the right to be a pain in the @ss about it.

Wish you the best in your future employment~

Hello, and welcome to our forum!

I think you are missing something here. You were not "blacklisted" because you took a drug test. Here's the deal. Most companies hiring new inexperienced drivers will not take someone who has once tried to start a trucking career and then changed their mind. I know it sounds crazy to you, but this is not like any ordinary job. It is a change of lifestyle and a real commitment to an industry that is very demanding.

Most trucking companies will give you a shot at this just to give you a chance to prove you have the stuff that makes for a great trucker. If you fail, they've wasted a lot of time, effort and money. They will then move on and give another person a shot at it. They are really reluctant to take a person who started orientation at another company and then didn't finish the job. That is why they asked you that particular question. It was a bit of a trick question to find out if you had ever tried this before. Once you answered it affirmatively their interest was gone. That is why they are ghosting you. It has nothing to do with drugs or drug test results.

Starting a trucking career is really challenging. It takes a lot of commitment. If you can get started somewhere, remember this discussion. If you want to make a career of this, you will really need to be able to commit to a full year of learning as a rookie driver. I am ten years in and I still consider myself a student at this. I have not come near to mastering this career.

Just move on and apply everywhere you can think of. Unfortunately you are getting started with a blemish. It can be overcome, but it will be even more difficult during these difficult economic times. Hiring has slowed and companies have the luxury of being more selective during this time. Just keep those applications going. You can fill out one application and have it go to multiple companies by Applying For Truck Driving Jobs here.

Hello, and welcome to our forum!

I think you are missing something here. You were not "blacklisted" because you took a drug test. Here's the deal. Most companies hiring new inexperienced drivers will not take someone who has once tried to start a trucking career and then changed their mind. I know it sounds crazy to you, but this is not like any ordinary job. It is a change of lifestyle and a real commitment to an industry that is very demanding.

Most trucking companies will give you a shot at this just to give you a chance to prove you have the stuff that makes for a great trucker. If you fail, they've wasted a lot of time, effort and money. They will then move on and give another person a shot at it. They are really reluctant to take a person who started orientation at another company and then didn't finish the job. That is why they asked you that particular question. It was a bit of a trick question to find out if you had ever tried this before. Once you answered it affirmatively their interest was gone. That is why they are ghosting you. It has nothing to do with drugs or drug test results.

Thanks for the reply. I think you’re probably spot on with the “trick question” angle. These training companies must get a lot of people who take up spots in their program, make them pay for drug tests, and then don’t show up when it actually matters. I regret being one of those guys for company I chatted with last year. So his question about taking drug tests at other companies is him trying to classify me as someone who is serious or another time waster.

I’ve been talking with the local cdl training facility near my town and might go with them next month, though it sucks to start this career 4000 dollars in the hole.

Why pay out of pocket for instruction instead of signing on with a company for a year obligation, solid training, great resources, and essentially guaranteed a position?

Yes ****, that's exactly what happened. My training class, started out with 64 people. Half were young bucks (gals n guys) all talkin' big talk, "I'mma gunna be owner op etc etc" before they've even seen if trucking was for them.........Well, 24 of us graduated out of that original 64 ! 1 girl, got so far as to leave the terminal , to go meet up with her trainer. I heard, within 80 miles away from our terminal, she told whoever was driving the rental car, "Take me back, I ain't doin' this BS" and QUIT, before she started.

A LOT of the others, jumped ship after they got their CDL's, thinkin' they're gunna go with a better paying job. Until, they got hit with the Contract clause, and having to pay back $6500+ a couple did return, not many, to fulfill the contract. It was only for 10 months, it used to be 8 months, but it got abused, so it got raised 2 months pffffft no big deal

Within the 1st year, there was, me, and "maybe", 2 others, still driving for this company. By year 2, I was the last 1 of us 24 grads, to leave and take a 5 month break, until I went back driving OTR with another company......'til I retired, fully lol

Guess site filters didn't like me typing your posted name, lol *Richard*