DOT Drug Testing: Urinalysis Or Hair Follicle?

I was in a very bad wreck (passenger in personal auto) 2 months ago. I am not a drug user under normal circumstances. But I was in a lot of pain and my friend came over with some weed. It helped me sleep that night. Haven't used it since nor do I intend to again. Not worried about UA test, will pass with flying colors. Not worried about randoms, won't be using it. But I am worried about the ever present hair testing. I have been checking into DART. Does anybody know which test they use. I don't want to kill my career over 1 night of pain relief. I haven't been in a CMV since before the accident.

Did you find out if Dart does hair follicle?

I get asked privately on a regular basis which companies do hair follicle testing and which ones do urinalysis. Would you guys mind telling me what you know from your experience with the companies you're with?

If you'd prefer to keep this private because you don't want people knowing which company you work for I'm totally cool with that. Click on my name to the left of this message and it will take you to my profile. You'll see a link that says "Would you like to send Brett a private message?" Click on that and shoot me a private message. I don't care who you are or who you work for. I just want to be able to help people get their trucking careers underway and help them prepare for any challenges that lie ahead.

Thanks!!!!!!

Searched the thread but could find nothing on Dart and hair follicle testing. Any updates? Thank You

I just failed a hair test but passed the urine test,this was for pre-employment for an oil field company. I'm currently looking at Dart Transit as a lease operator but can't find any info on their pre-employment drug screen. Please let me know any updates. f.y.i I was lucky to get a nice person that informed me of my failure, they took a hair from my body and was informed that body hair will show 1 year hair 90 days. I failed at .5 pecoograms (0.0005 nanograms) cut off is .1 pecoogram.

hair follicle can and only detect up to 90 days and FYI they are not as reliable as urine if you have a clean system for 90 days no worries 100% fact there is a great website on this answers.yahoo.com hair follicle vs urine

I just failed a hair test but passed the urine test,this was for pre-employment for an oil field company. I'm currently looking at Dart Transit as a lease operator but can't find any info on their pre-employment drug screen. Please let me know any updates. f.y.i I was lucky to get a nice person that informed me of my failure, they took a hair from my body and was informed that body hair will show 1 year hair 90 days. I failed at .5 pecoograms (0.0005 nanograms) cut off is .1 pecoogram.

hair follicle can and only detect up to 90 days and FYI they are not as reliable as urine if you have a clean system for 90 days no worries 100% fact there is a great website on this answers.yahoo.com hair follicle vs urine

Thank you for responding. I've done a lot of research on this and found many variables. I passed the urinalysis test but failed the hair follicle test and was informed on 6/19/15. If Dart performs urinalysis test I'll be ok otherwise I don't want to go through that again. I cannot find any information out there concerning Dart's drug testing policy.

I found this thread while doing a general search on Melton trucking since I was considering them after I get done with CDL school. I read a few things that concerned me since I'm NOT a hairy guy. As for the length of my hair when I apply for a job, well, if anyone considers failing me since I don't have the length of hair needed for this test, then they can kiss my hairless butt cheeks! And if they think they can put it on my permanent record without actually conducting the test, then there will be a legal fight to follow!

That's beside the point. As to why folks are concerned about the hair test, those reasons can be many, and its not the purpose of this thread to play judge jury and executioner. The purpose is to provide the facts, and I'd like to thank Brent for his efforts to remind people of just that.

I've spent that last month randomly visiting the web pages of the labs that actually conduct these test and this is what I've found that all of them have in common.

Yes the length of the hair matters... If you, for example, smoked pot on the same day you shaved your head, 1 year ago, and don't smoke any more, and don't cut your hair, then if the test facility were to test the end of you hair, then yes, you will test positive. However, according to all the labs web pages, they test from the base of the head, or body where the hair is taken, and go out approx. 1.5 inches. The 1.5 inches is based on the average hair growth rate of .5 inches per 1 month.

As for folks who are saying that certain companies check back longer than just 3 months. Yes, it is possible. The cost of going back further jump dramatically for employers who want to check back further, but again, this is only possible if you have the hair length available for them to conduct a more extensive test. But the basic 3 month test is the standard because it shows employers if a prospective employee is a habitual abuser of substances.

As near as I can tell, 3 months of being clean, from whatever is in your system, and then shaving your head, will clear you of any trace on the hair test. As far as companies going back further, I think that's more of a scare tactic then actually reality unless you have hair long enough for them to do so?

I found some interesting info on leg, arm pit and other hairy parts of the body too. Seems these hairs actually replace them selves on an almost daily basis. Hair on other parts of the body actually die after they reach a certain length, and a new hair actually pushes them out and replaces them. Sort of like the hair cycle of life? According to the info on several of the lab testing web sites? Do a google search for "hair testing labs" and if you want to read it for yourself, then its really the best info?

What test does bellavence give??

I'm assuming if you have doctors documentation in case you have taken prescriptions that may cause a false positive "IE adderall" that would be OK huh?

I'm assuming if you have doctors documentation in case you have taken prescriptions that may cause a false positive "IE adderall" that would be OK huh?

Yes, that would be fine. Any prescription medications you've taken recently enough will almost certainly appear on the test. If you don't have a prescription for it you've failed the test. So make sure you let the doctors know about any prescriptions you've taken.

Also be aware that there are a lot of prescriptions that will not be approved for commercial driving. Anything that causes drowsiness or could impair your judgment in any way will not be approved. You will also find that some of the stronger narcotics may require that you stop them for a minimum amount of time - anywhere from 30 to 90 days - before you will be allowed to drive.

So if you're on any prescriptions you'll want to call a doctor or hospital that gives DOT physicals and find out if your medication will be allowed for commercial driving. If not, get your doctor to switch you to something that will work.

After doing more searching...... It looks like my choices in the past will stop me from going for this new career... I dont have years to wait.... wow, this was the last thing i needed tonight.

No man You don't have to put it on hold. Honestly, many of us are former partakers in the herb. I stopped because I wanted this career, and it only took a couple of months to clean out. Passed every dot test. You just have to make a choice too stop and not recontaminate yourself. Now, that said, I've only been subjected to the urine test. I didn't do anything to mask it or dilute it. I just stopped using. And if I can do it, anyone can. I'm not at all ashamed to say I was a conniseur for many years. Loved it but had to make a change. When I rerure, I'll probably get me a fat sack of the chronic and have a blast. But, I digress, don't give up the ship. CR England said to me that they go back 6 months. And a lot of the companies I checked only do urine test. So don't sweat it. Or, DO sweat it. Drink lots of fluids, sweat alot, take some good clean out products, crap alot (lots of fat in the colon), don't recontaminate. You'll be able to make this a career. Just watch your mirrors FER GOSH SAKES.......WATCH YER MIRRORS!!!!!!!

After doing more searching...... It looks like my choices in the past will stop me from going for this new career... I dont have years to wait.... wow, this was the last thing i needed tonight.

No man You don't have to put it on hold. Honestly, many of us are former partakers in the herb. I stopped because I wanted this career, and it only took a couple of months to clean out. Passed every dot test. You just have to make a choice too stop and not recontaminate yourself. Now, that said, I've only been subjected to the urine test. I didn't do anything to mask it or dilute it. I just stopped using. And if I can do it, anyone can. I'm not at all ashamed to say I was a conniseur for many years. Loved it but had to make a change. When I retire, I'll probably get me a fat sack of the chronic and have a blast. But, I digress, don't give up the ship. CR England said to me that they go back 6 months. And a lot of the companies I checked only do urine test. So don't sweat it. Or, DO sweat it. Drink lots of fluids, sweat alot, take some good clean out products, crap alot (lots of fat in the colon), don't recontaminate. You'll be able to make this a career. Just watch your mirrors FER GOSH SAKES.......WATCH YER MIRRORS!!!!!!!

Did a spell check. Had to correct retire. See what years of smoking will do to ya?