Drugs and new drivers... Is it really THAT bad?

(citation needed)
you seem at least a lil upset

 

its a sorry state for sure

 

I suspect a high percentage of those are Natives

 

Slow?

 

The war on drugs is the biggest joke and waste of money and resources. I can't believe people actually believe the crap the government tells them.

The war on drugs made el chapo and Escobar rich, without prohibition they would be nobody.

Prohibition doesn't work, look how dumb the prohibition on alcohol looks now, it increased crime and didn't stop drinking.

News flash, it doesn't work for weed either. Imagine how dumb this is going to look when it's legal. People were thrown in jail for a #### plant and wasting billions on enforcing its ban. They could be making billions on taxing it instead.

 

Unfortunately drugs only have a minascule effect on society. The deep rooted problem is in the DNA. Can't fix that.

 

I am on record in these forums with several points in regard to the use of illegal drugs,the illegal use of legal drugs AND trucking. I also know first hand that one of the most if not THE most dangerous drug in this country is ALCOHOL! This is a drug you as a truck driver can have in your body off duty. In fact NEVER make the mistake of doing the blow part of a random if your ever called while off duty. I have never seen any real evidence that marijuana use is dangerous while off duty. At some point the FMCSA is going to have to address this THC issue because more and more drivers are getting hit with positives that harm their careers over silly reasons. The fact is the barn door is open and it is way too late to try to close it now. In fact at some point there is a real chance the FMCSA might get took to court over this disqualification for THC issue. I know of 2 attorneys right now right here in Hampton Roads that are assembling files for a possible lawsuit. At this point I think they are only waiting on Marijuana to be removed from the DEA illegal list. So I would not call this issue BAD as used in the thread title, I do think at some point the FMCSA will BE FORCED to develop tests and testing like they do alcohol. Congress got the FMCSA in regard to that sleep apnea guidelines crap, they might do the same with this. I do fully expect congressional action on this issue within the next 5 to 10 years.

 

Yeah the fact that alcohol is legal but weed isn't gives lie to the whole 'we outlaw drugs to protect the public' angle. They sure were A OK with heroin for about 10-15 years recently when a drug company could turn a profit on it. (go look up Purdue pharmaceuticals and Oxycontin that story is a hoot)

So they are completely fine with alcohol which especially for drivers is massively worse than weed... And they are OK with heroin and cocaine as long as they are sold by a big pharma company (adderal is basically speed/cocaine in pill form, and all of the opiate class of drugs are basically heroin) and booze is fine... But yeah if it's an illegal drug that automatically changes everything!

At this point the whole thing is so played out that even the people who have the most to benefit from it (law enforcement people... anti drug programs create a LOT of law enforcement jobs) are frequently speaking out against it. Mark my words when they write up the history of our lifetimes this will be the big horrible thing they try to gloss over with one paragraph in history books.

 

Yes.

Remember back in the 80's when I started, there was no airride, all iron and steel even inside the cab. You needed a hard body and to be young to endure the beating as you drove. In fact there was nothing in law related to big trucks against drinking and driving. I was taught to use a 6 pack or a schnapps bottle in moderation to ease the pain of truly bad roads over a few hundred miles. I will arrive pretty toasty and happy at dinner end of day, but it was what it is.

1994 Clinton signed the CDL Laws. All drugs, all drinking etc stops now. Among other changes. Almost a half million experienced truckers went home. Creating a bonanza for the young ones. Then JB Hunt and Pumpking etc shut schools when they realized they were training hundreds of thousands of drivers to get CDL etc who then quit to join other companies. Many changes. Drug testers wanted to charge you 60 dollars an hour to wait while you sit there drinking water or stood in the freezing cold of winter waiting to get enough to do a drug test on you.

Everyone went crazy in management. All drivers became suspects etc.

Anyone born after 1990 is the new generation now able to get CDL but they grew up most likley exposed to pot, lsd etc. Some are even hardened gang members before 12 in Baltimore downtown back then a second generation drug dealing family. When these hit 21 and wanna drive? Ya right.

Drug testing is considered a defense in the trucking industry to weed out those who do drugs. You cannot and must not hand a 18 wheeler to a drug addict. We had one post here two days ago saying he was clean 15 months. Awesome. Then two weeks ago he smoked some more. THAT is a addict any way you slice it.

Me? Im retired. Disabled actually, all the bones are being consumed. I wont be around too much longer and depend on narcotics to go about my remaining days with clarity. What is normal for me with everything in order will reduce you to a drooling unconsious mess in about a hour. Because you have no tolerance. It is not needed for most of the population. I will totally destroy a drug test in trucking today. Light them on fire to the whole building... to paraphrase. But due to my 30 years plus on the road I can probably fool a manager into thinking there is nothing wrong with me in perfect shifting etc. But truth be told im happy I don't deal with some of the stuff you all have to deal with today.

Microphones, driver facing cameras, a HOS computer not letting you do anything with a truck etc etc etc. You all are living in a less than free work place I abhor. Do you understand?

If you have absolutely nothing illegal or legal prescriptions whatsoever, you have NOTHING TO FEAR from the drug testing. Cheerfully fill a gallon bucket for them. Be happy that's over with. Go to work. LOL.