Drug testing

A hair test goes back 3 months I would be safe though and give it at least 4 so u don't have that much longer

 

It's difficult to give an exact number of schools.
For example, Millis Transfer did urine test only, but now another company bought them and now does hair follicle.
Better just go with what you know for a few months, then change companies if you want. Never know, you might be content with Western Express dry van or Stevens Transport refrigerated.
Don't be in a hurry and possibly delay your new career a few months or a year.

 

FWIW follicle tests can go back at least a year. It’s dependent upon relative growth rate of the hair tested. For example hair pit hair grows much slower than the hair on your head and can yield results showing usage going back for a year.

How far back does a hair follicle test detect drugs?.

Whether true or not a Schneider recruiter told my CDL class they use hair follicle and go back 6 months.

 

That's interesting but from.what I understand the cost is higher the.further they check.back..standard testing goes back 3 months..good to know though.

 

Standard testing? What’s that? There is no standard for testing other than a urinalysis. But, that’s not a standard, only a mandated minimum. Currently companies are free to go above and beyond the mandate as they see fit when screening new hires as long as it doesn’t violate religious beliefs.

However, only urinalysis results may be shared in the DOT Clearing House. Schneider is one of a group of carriers that has petitioned for follicle testing to be included in the Clearing House. They want the ability to share their results and they want access to other company’s results because they contend urinalysis is unreliable. As recently December of 2022 FMSCA has denied those petitions ruling that the statute that created the Clearing House only allows inclusion of urinalysis results.

As far the cost, if a company requires follicle testing the difference in cost for a 3 month vs a 6 or 12 month history probably is not going to be an issue. A single “off the shelf” hair follicle test can be had for as low as $100 to $150 at retail pricing. If additional drugs are screened the cost per rises according to the substance being tested for.

The major carriers that require them do so at a rate high enough to get discounted pricing. They are requiring hair samples because they are adamant about weeding out people with a history of substance abuse. They believe those drivers are a higher safety risk than someone without that history. They also know that if they prevent one accident the money saved by avoiding a financial settlement will probably be enough to pay for their annual drug testing budget. Two and they are making money.

To go back further than 90 days requires a segmented test which simply means the testing company obtains a hair sample x number of times the length to conduct a single test. The length needed for a 90 day test is 1.5” of scalp hair. Hair from other areas don’t need to be as long. If the company wants to go back 6 months using scalp hair the tester would obtain a 3” long sample of scalp hair then cut it in 1.5” segments etc….. Then each segment is tested separately. The results would be reported as x for 0-90 days, y for 91 to 180 days etc…..

Due to segmented testing essentially being a complete additional test they will cost more. But like any similar situation the costs won’t scale linearly. An analogy would be something like you go to a restaurant to eat a ribeye. The 12 oz costs say $35 which is $2.92 per oz. On the other hand, the 16 oz costs $42 which is only $2.62 per oz.

 

The DOT PUBLISHED this final rule in the Federal Register, effective 1 June 2023. 49 CFR parts 40, 219,240,242,382, and 655 were changed to allow for oral fluids to also be used as well as urine. This rule is on hold however as far as I know. I do welcome this change because there are a lot of people who have problems with shy bladder. DOT LINK!

 

Not surprised at all. Didn’t know reliable oral testing was available. But, I guess if reliable DNA testing was available via oral swab was surely not too far behind.

 

Wonder how many companies are going back further than 90 days 1.5 inches of hair ? I doubt many but who knows. Better yet, dont do drugs...

 

If you used drugs you don't get to tell companies how they can test for your past drug use. Taking shortcuts is volunteering for more problems. Life is hard enough with the standard issue number of obstacles. Don't put obstacles in your own path.