Drug Testing Question
Topic 8435 | Page 1
No edit function here?
What I mean is:
5 or 10 Panel= good 11or 12 Panel= May be a problem
Nearly every company uses the 5 panel test: cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, opiate, thc. The drug you've been taking is a schedule 1 controlled substance that falls under the opiate category. Which given a 5 panel drug screen may show up positive for opiates.
If you're getting off of it I highly recommend getting a letter from your prescribing physician stating you've been cleared of whatever ailment it was prescribed for. That MD is much more qualified to tell you how long it will be in your system and when it would be safe to pass a drug screen.
And/or a letter stating it would be ok to take and drive which I doubt any physician is going to do with an opiate class drug. I have read of getting physician clearances for one controlled substance and driving and that is Adderal but that one is classified as an amphetamine.
Seriously, get the ok by a physician before taking yourself off a medication you've been taking for 9 years. Let them know the safety sensitive job you plan on taking. You will have to list any medication your currently taking for a dot med certificate and that one is going to automatically disqualify you from getting one. If months down the road, whatever ailment you've been taking it for comes back and you have to get back on it...goodbye cdl. Unless of course you get a letter from a physician stating you're ok to drive while taking it. Otherwise of you get back on it and get hit with a random or god forbid an accident and come up positive on a UA...goodbye cdl and now a positive on a drug screen which goes on your driving record (DAC) and being extremely unemployable down the road unless you fight like hell to get that removed. Ever try to remove his against your credit score? Removing a hit on DAC is worse.
Good luck in your endeavors!!
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
Nearly every company uses the 5 panel test: cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, opiate, thc. The drug you've been taking is a schedule 1 controlled substance that falls under the opiate category. Which given a 5 panel drug screen may show up positive for opiates.
If you're getting off of it I highly recommend getting a letter from your prescribing physician stating you've been cleared of whatever ailment it was prescribed for. That MD is much more qualified to tell you how long it will be in your system and when it would be safe to pass a drug screen.
And/or a letter stating it would be ok to take and drive which I doubt any physician is going to do with an opiate class drug. I have read of getting physician clearances for one controlled substance and driving and that is Adderal but that one is classified as an amphetamine.
Seriously, get the ok by a physician before taking yourself off a medication you've been taking for 9 years. Let them know the safety sensitive job you plan on taking. You will have to list any medication your currently taking for a dot med certificate and that one is going to automatically disqualify you from getting one. If months down the road, whatever ailment you've been taking it for comes back and you have to get back on it...goodbye cdl. Unless of course you get a letter from a physician stating you're ok to drive while taking it. Otherwise of you get back on it and get hit with a random or god forbid an accident and come up positive on a UA...goodbye cdl and now a positive on a drug screen which goes on your driving record (DAC) and being extremely unemployable down the road unless you fight like hell to get that removed. Ever try to remove his against your credit score? Removing a hit on DAC is worse.
Good luck in your endeavors!!
Thank You so much for your reply.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone) does NOT come up as an opiate.
My physician is well aware of my taper and I would have no problem getting a letter.
I have already checked the requirements to get the CDL by DOT thoroughly before I go to school for CDL and can't get it after that.
Buprenorphine (suboxone) stays in your system for up to 30 days. More common is around 17.
I am not worried about taking the drug as I am getting off it, but as you can see, it stays in your system a long time.
Thank You so much for your reply.
The common drug testing practice is very good to know.
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
DAC:
Drive-A-Check Report
A truck drivers DAC report will contain detailed information about their job history of the last 10 years as a CDL driver (as required by the DOT).
It may also contain your criminal history, drug test results, DOT infractions and accident history. The program is strictly voluntary from a company standpoint, but most of the medium-to-large carriers will participate.
Most trucking companies use DAC reports as part of their hiring and background check process. It is extremely important that drivers verify that the information contained in it is correct, and have it fixed if it's not.
PS- Buprenorphine (suboxone) is a Schedule III controlled substance just FYI.
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Hey,
I am getting my CDL and have been on Buprenorphine (Suboxone) for 9 years.
I am stopping but don't think I will be completely off by the time I need to get a gig.
According to FMCSA the DOT requires a 5 panel test.
My question is, what are most employers using on average these days?
Is Suboxone tested for commonly? Or if it is a 10 Panel I am still ok.
It has to be tested for specifically and has not been common but these days (2015) I am not so sure.
Thanks,
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.