I'm going to be joining the ranks of truckdrivers (hopefully) soon, as early as sept. 15, as late as oct 15, and i have a guestion about the type of drug testing being done in the industry today. the reason im asking is aprox. 2 months ago at a friends' sons graduation party i smoked pot. its not the type of thing i do these days but there were alot of old friends there....anyway, from what i have been able to learn the only type of test that could possilby detect this would be the hair test which can possilby detect drug use as far away ago as 6 months to a year. this happens to be an expensive test though that is not widely used. a urine test i would pass even now, let alone a month or 2 away from now, but the hair test would be a gamble that i dont want to chance. what kind of testing is being done.
btw, im currently looking at schnieder, but wouldnt mind alternatives as far as companies that train you in exchange for service.
thanks in advance

To my knowledge it is a urinalisys industry wide. ... It is possible for the pot to stay in your system for quite some time and have heard of drivers being disqualified for smoking a joint prior to employment. I would sugest you stay away from the ot if you intend to stay on as a truck driver...

You only have to take a [urine] test for your CDL physical. Pot will not show up in your system after a month of smoking it. If you think you're going to keep smoking pot after you get your license, you're better off looking for another proffession. In this instance, you've had a two months heads up you have a piss test coming up. Once you have a CDL, you don't get that courtesy, it can happen any time you pass a state line, or anywhere a state decides to set up a check point for truckdrivers. Either way you decide---good luck.[/b]

Like i wrote, its not the type of thing i do these days. as far as how long it stays in your system, that is actually not cut and dried. people with fast metabolisms get it out of their system faster. an ocassional user might actaully have it in his system longer than a person who uses habitually.
i understand peoples perception that i might be lying about how often i last smoked and that i just wish to continue smoking after starting to drive but that is not the case. while i dont agree with the drug laws in this country, i do agree that people with certain jobs, ie doctors, pilots, truck/bus drivers ect. need to be drug free.
anyway , thanks for the replies.

If you only smoked a joint 2 months ago, it is very unlikely that this would show up on ANY test, even one performed on hair. You would have to be a regular user for this to show up.

About the ONLY way that a hair sample would be even considered, is in the case of a fatal accident, and then, under a court order. It's not done as a matter of routine.

Urine tests are the only approved testing sources for pre-hire and random testing for transportation workers. If you indeed only smoked a joint two months ago...then there's nothing to worry about.

Going on further on this subject, I have a script for a sleep aid with a letter from my doctor that says taking it as directed should not interfer with my work. I also had two wisdom teeth pulled Thursday, and have pain pills that will run out Tuesday. Is this a problem? Please advise. Thanks for any replies.

There are two things that will need clarification.

What is the medication?

Is your doctor familiar with the medical criteria for, and medications that are not allowed to be taken at all, by drivers of commerical vehicles?

If you can give the name of the medication, I will be happy to do a search, and if it is NOT on the list of banned medications, then the note is not necessary. If it IS on the banned list, then the note is worthless anyway.

for sleep, zanex and the pain pills are loratab. they are about gone though, and I dont drive again till after midnight sunday night. thanks again.
Where can you look such things up, if it is a book I will buy, or is it on the dot web site?

Apparently the rules on prescription drugs have been under amendment, much like other regulations. The D.O.T. site has been constantly updated over the past year or so.

There was, at one time, a list of prescription medications that were not allowed to be take in any quantities by all transportation workers, but for some reason, that has completely disappeared from all references that I previously had on the subject. Part 40 of the drug and alcohol regulations rule currently on the subject:

If a driver is prescribed a medication, the prescribing physician is supposed to be aware of the nature of your job, and that you operate a commercial vehicle. He is not supposed to prescribe any medication that would interfere with any safety sensitive function you perform in the course of your job . The driver is required to take the medication in the quantities prescribed, with no alteration in use.

The motor carrier, at it's discretion, may have all drivers report to them, all prescription medications they are taking, and to report to the carrier any time they are prescribed a new medication, for a review by the Physician of their choice (company Physician), to approve or disapprove the use of the medication while on duty, or to temporarily remove the driver from safety sensitive functions until the medication is either changed to one that the company Physician will approve, or when the course of the prescription is concluded.

In other words, if there is no written policy issued by the motor carrier that you must report to them all medications that you are taking at any given moment, then you are free to follow your Physicians advice. Pain medications usually come with warnings not to operate machinery or to drive while taking them, so I'm a bit concerned about that one.

Xanex, to the best of my knowledge, should'nt present a problem, unless it again, comes with a warning label placed upon the bottle, as is the case with a few of the anti-depressants and sleep aids.

Thanks again for the help, I have brought the sleep aid to the attention of the safety dept and they said no problem, as it is a prescribed medication and they mentioned a alternitive and my doc called it in.