I don't know where to go with a major problem.

**gravelhauler** · 07.10.2012

I've been training on pneaumatic tanks for the last week and a half. I was put with one trainer for 2 days then he had to go out of town to work. I was put with another trainer and this is when my problem begin. We were on a load going to south Texas, he stops in Houston to use the bathroom, I stayed in the truck. He comes out and we take off. He started talking about drugs and we talked about them until he decided to stop to get something to eat. We're sitting in the truck eating, he gets finished, pulls out a small package which turns out to be synthetic marijuana. He actually rolls a joint and starts smoking it!!! I get out of the truck because i didn't want to be inhaling that crap. I then tell him that the terminal manager said I had to log so many miles driving before I could get my own truck. So I get behind the wheel and drive to deliver the load and drive back to our terminal. I went straight to the terminal manager and told him what I'd experienced. He says he's gonna make him go take a drug test. I told him that this stuff supposedly doesn't show up on a drug test. This idiot as of today is still driving. I want him off of the road. My wife and children drive on the same roads he does. I've asked the terminal manager what he was gonna do about this and he said he's trying to figure out how to catch him. Can they test for synthetic marijuana or will he have to be caught with it in the truck to be fired? Like I said, I want this POS off of the road. What can I do?!?!?!?!?!

**bender** · 07.11.2012

In my opinion you've already done all you can do, time to change your focus back to the job and away from this guy. If you continue to focus on him and his habits it will eventually get you in trouble (possibly more so than him) and bring you down. You can't control other people, just avoid them and let the chips fall as they may.

**gravelhauler** · 07.11.2012

Understood. But what if those chips fall on some innocent mother bringing her children to school, or on one of my friends or loved ones? There's a time to let things go and there's a time to stand and do something. Turning a blind eye to what he is doing while behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound truck is not what needs to be done.

**bender** · 07.11.2012

I agree, but you've already reported the issue and you have no leverage to take it further, it will only eat you up to focus on it. There are people out there doing these types of things in droves, you can't control or stop all of them, it isn't possible.

**Tazz** · 07.11.2012

Your terminal manager needs no reason to test him beyond resonable suspicion. If they fail to act report it to the FMCSA.Dope heads have no business around a truck or highway.

Maybe help him have a debilitating accident during an unload? Kinda self defense in my book.

**kc0iv** · 07.11.2012

Originally Posted by Tazz

Your terminal manager needs no reason to test him beyond resonable suspicion. If they fail to act report it to the FMCSA.Dope heads have no business around a truck or highway.

Maybe help him have a debilitating accident during an unload? Kinda self defense in my book.

Problem is "synthetic marijuana" won't show up a drug test. And at this time they are legal.

That being said - I the terminal manager want to get rid of him there are many ways that can be done.

**lonelyswmtrucker** · 07.11.2012

it's not hard to catch a drug user. there are different ways to do it. 1 is search him by the company, 2 if he gets pulled over for ANYTHING he can be searched. if synthetic marijuana is LEGAL & DOT has no problem with it, then there is NOTHING anyone can do about it. question is; is it REALLY synthetic or not?

**Tazz** · 07.11.2012

http://www.redwoodtoxicology.com/

http://www.aegislabs.com/Home

Both of those have developed tests for compounds in urine and hair from synthetic cannabis. It needs to be done and documented so this yack off is removed from the highway. As a terminal manager I would be kicking this straight up the corporate chain as now there is knowledge of this use and greatly increases the exposure of your company litigation should he be involved in an accident be it on a road, or just workplace..

**Phillip Memug** · 07.11.2012

I guess I'm just a old square but I didn't even know there was such a thing as synthetic pot.
Wow, learn something new everyday!
But from what I just read it can be up to 10 times stronger and as of 3/11/11 it's illegal (as it should be).

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/03...ly_illegal.php

**transam pete** · 07.11.2012

as a former correctional officer standard tests didn't detect synthetic pot
newer tests were developed and work
first day 100 inmates were sent back to prison from the pre release center
you can't fix stupid
Also as much as the high and mighty will tell you every truck driver does what is right legal and safe
it doesn't happen the same problems afflicting the rest of society plague the trucking industry
Being clean and sober for 11 years now I realize drug addiction and alcoholism isn't just diseases of the homeless
or the fishermen or construction workere
I have 2 friends who are retired judges another friend is a catholic priest and many wall street bankers and brokers
local state and federal cops also
So truck drivers will always be in that group also some might never get caught just a sad fact of life