TMC And Drug Testing

- but you're willing to try and cheat a drug test as you have in the past.-

Definitely. I don’t plan to continue my marijuana use and once training is over, I’ll be clean on my own. I haven’t even called yet, I don’t know when next orientation is. I appreciate your comment but I would do almost anything to advance myself. Most would. Cheating a drug test is mild on the list compared to what I would do to get a leg up.

Many companies fit the description of what appeals to you with TMC, so what makes them stand out to you??

can you suggest some others that will train out of central Oklahoma and not require a hair follicle. It was never my plan but a consideration, but I’ve come to expect character judgement from former police officers.

- but you're willing to try and cheat a drug test as you have in the past.-

Definitely. I don’t plan to continue my marijuana use and once training is over, I’ll be clean on my own. I haven’t even called yet, I don’t know when next orientation is. I appreciate your comment but I would do almost anything to advance myself. Most would. Cheating a drug test is mild on the list compared to what I would do to get a leg up.

Cheating a drug test isn't a leg up, it's a huge gamble. Once you step into orientation, you're fair game. They can drug test you anytime they want to. What happens if you get pulled in for a random 2 weeks later? Any thought of pursuing this career is dead in the water. Nobody will touch you as you'll have a positive test in your clearinghouses record and no experience. We've seen it here so many times.

You ignored everything else he told you and decided you want to go this route and that's your call.

I’ve come to expect character judgement from former police officers.

I don't know what that means, but if you have issues with law enforcement that's going to be another hurdle. Every state has a task force that's dedicated to us. Pull you in check paperwork, check equipment and check logs. Their discretion. Like everything else, some are nicer than others and some are more knowledgeable than others.

“Cheating a drug test is mild on the list compared to what I would do to get a leg up.”

The above quote might be the most frightening statement I’ve ever read on this forum.

So Garrett or Chuck or Mr Steele or whatever your name is, you think cheating on a drug test is “mild”? And exactly what else would you do to “get a leg up”? Would you kill someone? What does that statement mean or is it just loose talk?

Drug use is a frequent topic here because many drug users think truck driving will be some sort of cure for all the damage drug use has caused in their lives. But it very seldom accomplishes that goal. Long term drug use is very very difficult to overcome. I have lost a wife and a daughter to the ravages of drug abuse so I believe I know something about this issue. Thankfully I have been able to salvage my grandson from the wreckage, but I have a nuclear powered hatred of drug abuse and a great amount of skepticism about those who claim they are quitting and are never going to touch drugs again.

And Garrett, you have 3 days of non-use under your belt? Well congratulations. How long before you relapse? Statistics say your chances of success are low. Your comments have already proven to me that you do not hesitate to rationalize devious methods to cheat and are in denial that you are currently totally unqualified to enter the driving profession AND you will be unqualified for an extended period of time.

I sincerely hope you can turn your life around but until you have a proven track record, focus on developing skills in other areas.

Not worth a dime, but still my two cents:

1. I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet, but a quick google search will tell you that THC can stay in your system much longer than 1 month with prolonged use.

and

2. Maybe you can beat the system once, but there are Federally required random drug tests after you're hired (maybe you've done better with lottery tickets than I have), not to mention--and god forbid--you get into an accident you'll be drug tested as well. I'm sure it is company dependent, but while coaching one of our bus drivers had to test for a minor fender bender.

Everyone has their own risk tolerance, and admittedly, mine is fairly low. I will also say I understand the impatience. I've been more-or-less planning on truck driving for over a year now. I began thinking about it last January (almost quit my job to start), made a decision last summer to teach one more year, and started CDL school at a local community college on the weekends this January. Truck driving hasn't seem to have went anywhere in a year.

Banks the OP has likely had encounters with LE that he felt didn’t go very well due to their observations of him.

Cops are in the people business and you learn to identify certain patterns and behaviors. It’s kinda like a phycologist but we get our training on the streets dealing with real life folks and situations instead of from a classroom.

After 30 years in training I’ve gotten fairly good at spotting things, however I still learn something new everyday.

I’ve seen traits in the OP’s writing that shows he has decided truck driving is what he wants to do and he will do whatever he deems necessary to make it happen his way, regardless.

We have seen people with the same mindset many times before and most did it their way and were bounced out of the industry before the seat was warm.

Banks the OP has likely had encounters with LE that he felt didn’t go very well due to their observations of him.

Sounds like a cop out. I've had multiple run ins with law enforcement, back when I was a knucklehead and 9/10 were entirely my fault. I won't judge the bunch based on the 1/10.

Something else to consider that I don't think was mentioned yet. Companies can do just urinalysis today then change their policy and start doing follicle testing tomorrow. You could walk in to orientation ready to pee in a cup and be told they're also yanking some hair.

I waited a long time to start trucking for many reasons but it was worth the wait knowing there'd be nothing standing in my way once I did.

Hello and welcome,

Due to the never ending influx of “Hey man, I smoke weed and I need a trucking job, how do I pass a drug test?” posts that happen in here on a very regular basis, here is a blanket reply that cuts right to the chase…

THE GOLDEN RULE OF MARIJUANA, TRUCKING, and DRUG TESTS is to wait 12 months from last use before applying for a trucking job for (2) reasons. First, it will guaranty that any THC compounds and/or cannabanoids will be thoroughly purged from your system regardless of your health, body mass, and how much you previously used. Second, you will have proven to yourself, and the trucking industry that you are in full control of yourself and are a “past user” versus an addict. Users can walk away and stay away. Addicts are dependent on the THC and cannot quit without professional intervention or alternate therapies. The problem is so many chronic “dependent” users think they can cope without it moving forward and relapse. If you relapse, reset the 12 month clock.

FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN BOTHER BECOMING A TRUCK DRIVER:

- 70% of first year drivers (the majority of which don’t use drugs) wash out and quit due to the stress, job demands, and social isolation.

-Tractor/trailer combos are nearly 70 feet long and can weigh 40 tons and can potentially injure or kill scores of people if the driver is impaired by controlled substances. Loss of limb or life and multi-million dollar losses to carriers and/or their insurance companies are not uncommon in severe trucking accidents. Think about that.

-You can and will be tested at random intervals and can face strict penalties if you test positive.

-Do you honestly believe that you will avoid using literally 100% of the time (including your time off)? That is what is will take to even stand a chance at making a go of this.

-Trucking is the 7th most dangerous job in America, has the 4th highest suicide rate of any occupation, and is always near the top for divorce rate. Do you have the mental constitution to ignore stress and make quick and correct decisions in an emergency WITHOUT having your mind numbed by drugs? An average sober person does not. Ponder that for a minute as it’s a huge question “Can I manage extreme stress while sober for the long haul?”

FREQUENT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT TRUCKING AND MARIJUANA:

“Anyone can get a trucking job, it’s easy and there is high demand”

-Ridiculously incorrect. On the contrary there are very few that actually CAN do this job. It is stressful, demanding, requires a 12-14 hour workdays with a constantly changing schedule and altered sleep patterns.

“I can still use on my time off as long as I am sober for duty”

-Wrong. THC has lasting effects which impairs your short term memory, ability to focus, cognitive function, and motivation. These are all CRITICAL characteristics of a good driver. And NO, how strong and cool you think you are does not matter...it applies to everyone equally .

“If I fail a drug test, I deserve a second chance!”

- If you failed a DOT drug test your career is most likely over already. YOU made a choice to use and YOU are responsible for this outcome. The purpose of the test is to keep unsafe drivers off the road. You will now likely need to find another career field (preferably non-OSHA).

“Drug addicts can’t be discriminated!”

-Back to reality, yes they can and they will be with no legal recourse (even though there are attorneys who know this but will gladly take your money to make you feel better). Your ability to earn an income does NOT supersede Federal Regulations for Motor Carriers which are designed to protect the general public. Every day people are turned away due to failing a DOT physical for a variety of reasons: high blood pressure, uncontrollable diabetes, etc. You are in the same league as them...physically unfit to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle.

IN CLOSING:

This may not be what you wanted to hear but perhaps what you needed to hear. Trucking is brutally stressful and demanding lifestyle change. Frankly, if you can’t face and handle stress and react quickly under pressure and have any severe emotional problems, then you likely have a 99% chance of failure. Not trying to be harsh, but most people with mental health and/or chemical dependency issues will have a nearly impossible uphill battle in this field.

I myself am a prior marijuana user myself who has permanently quit prior to trucking. You can do it too! Please come back if/when you are clean for 12 months and there will be an abundance of support to get your career off to a great start! If you cannot stay clean, then there is no shame, in fact there is great respect if you will do the right thing and scratch trucking off of your list of options and find a career better suited to your situation. I pray that you will find not only employment soon, but also greater peace and fulfillment in your life.

All I can say is OMG WTF. I am just "working at" getting ready to get a CLP with the intent to become a Truck Driver, and what you wrote is friggen insane. I want to be a truck driver 10 years ago literally, but I have issues then that are the same as now. One thing I do know is it takes time when you don't have the right starting position, and you don't. I am guessing you have very little patience and I can almost guarantee you will fail mostly for that reason especially at TMC. While I cant say from experience, I have NONE. I can say this if as I have heard TMC is full of Jarheads and other Military types they will see you coming and KNOW how to deal with you. I suggest you read some TMC student Diaries and watch some TMC driver vids. While as I said I know nothing about TMC from experience I do know abit about the military mind set and 35% of TMC have that type of mind set, you cant even walk on the grass there. They will see you coming and hone in on you of that I am sure. Get clean first then check your impatience.

Let me start off by saying this may upset some of the drivers out there but I’m looking for a change in life. I’m in central Oklahoma and recently got my permit A. When considering a company to get my license with, I discovered TMC. I like their appeal because they don’t have team drive and their test is a urinalysis. I’ve been a 20 year consumer of cannabis products but I’m sick of this little detail holding me back so far in life. I threw out my bongs and pipes and whatnot and have only been sober for 3 days. I got a job local and told myself I would apply when I was clean. I would really like to get there sooner than later and have been considering faking my pre-employment urinalysis. The synthetics work and have gotten me most of my jobs in life but timing is important. From forum posts I’ve read so far, TMC test on your first day, disregarding travel day. If this is true and I have an hour of prep time, I can get through this drug test and further my career now instead of waiting another month. Please don’t think I’m trying to subvert testing and continue to smoke while I drive. I just don’t want to bus tables for a month while I wait to get clean. Any guidance or suggestion are welcome.