New and considering entering the job/life but not sure of some things

Discussion in 'The Welcome Wagon' started by ReachingEOL, Jul 2, 2020.

  1. ReachingEOL

    ReachingEOL Bobtail Member

    10
    6
    Jul 2, 2020
    0
    Hi and let me start by saying Im sorry if this is in the wrong place here. This will be kind of long so bear with me. You could skip over my ramblings to my questions below but I figured Id put as much detail as possible to get accurate info.

    Im in my late 40s and have been thinking of entering the trucking field. I have driven for a living at different points in my life but never with a CDL, Ive driven a NYC taxi, and town cars and limousines a bunch of years ago so I know I can put in long hours behind the wheel. The last few years i was dealing with health issues and havent worked aside from a short stint dealing cards in Vegas and it just wasnt for me, theres no future in it and you are viewed as a disposable asset and not a human to casinos. After a ton of hospitalizations (20+) in a 2+ year time my doctors and I finally figured out it was some crazy drug allergies I developed and it stopped landing me in the hospital and seems to have resolved.

    One of the things I ended up allergic to was a couple of classes of blood pressure medicine so at one point my Dr suggested I should smoke pot because it would help keep my BP down while we worked out a medicine regimen that wouldnt cause me issues, its legal here in Vegas. I took his advice and did this and it worked and I smoked regularly until about March of this year when I stopped for about a month and then went back to trying edibles because my BP was still not quite where we wanted it (and Im not gonna BS anyone I kinda enjoyed the feeling and it helped with my lifelong anxiety issues as well).

    Now Im worried that with hair testing I will never not test positive or it will take an eternity to get it out of my hair. Im bald so they will probably take body hair for the test which complicates that even more from what I have read because body hair holds it longer and makes it harder to determine when you last used it. I now havent touched pot for about a month and have no plans to go back to it. My last hospital visit was in February and they hit me with the usual heavy painkillers, I am also on a prescription for Xanax on an as needed basis from my Dr for my anxiety issues and in each of these hospitalizations I was on heavy doses of narcotics for the pain I was in which I also worry about showing up in my hair.

    My Questions:
    I only recently started thinking of a late career change into trucking, it seems like something I could definitely do and be fairly happy in. I have some questions of course and hope people here can answer them. I need to make this move sooner rather than later because my wifes job went from secure to possibly out on her butt because of this Covid stuff.

    Do all companies test hair as well as urine? Is being on Xanax something that will disqualify me from driving/having a CDL? I know its not on the DOT 5 panel but Id have to disclose it. Am I out of my mind to be thinking of making this move in my late 40s? Is the path I plan on taking which is to get CDL training from a company that will then hire me a viable/smart plan in my position? Is spending money/ getting financial aid on a CDL program on my own a bad idea with all of this other stuff I mentioned?

    Thanks for reading and Im sorry to be so wordy but life is throwing me curveballs outside of all I wrote and Im kinda beside myself trying to find a solution.
     
    austinmike Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Lennythedriver

    Lennythedriver Road Train Member

    1,945
    6,271
    Feb 14, 2020
    0
    Trucking is not for you.
     
    Milr72 Thanks this.
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,039
    142,319
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Some companies only do urine test. Should be able to get the pot out of your system in 90 days.
    A few NYC cabbies now drive trucks and post on here.
    The BP meds will only get you a 12 mos. DOT medical card.
    Don't ever, ever admit to using pot or edibles. Trucking is under federal law which over rules state law on that issue. Companies know Nevada has legal pot stores, so during interviews they'll try to trick you into admitting you used it. As long as you're not using it now is what's important. That's not the same as being a heroin addict.
    Don't ever admit to anxiety or anything else. Trucking companies these days won't hire you.
    @Moose1958 can fill you in on Xanax.
    I think Prime Inc. still does urine test only. Their cdl school is in Salt Lake City.
    ~
    This company has cdl school in North Las Vegas. Financing is available and the first payment isn't due until 45 days after graduation.
    Truck Driving School & CDL Training | Southwest Truck ...
    Truck Driving School & CDL Training | Southwest Truck Driver Training
    4610 Vandenberg Drive
    N. Las Vegas, NV 89081
    [​IMG].[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
    LoneRanger and ReachingEOL Thank this.
  5. ReachingEOL

    ReachingEOL Bobtail Member

    10
    6
    Jul 2, 2020
    0
    Could you expand as to why you came to this conclusion?
     
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,039
    142,319
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    I'm no doctor, but my guess is that you job history, cabbie & casino, are the cause of your anxiety and high blood pressure.
    Get your body cleaned and prepare for a new career in trucking.
     
    ReachingEOL Thanks this.
  7. ReachingEOL

    ReachingEOL Bobtail Member

    10
    6
    Jul 2, 2020
    0
    Thanks a bunch for the detailed info, Im now waiting to get the pot out of my system I just worry about the hair test if it came up because that just takes forever to get it out. Im just so pissed at myself for listening to the Dr and starting smoking it but this wasnt on my radar at that time. I might have a way for the govt to pay for my CDL training I just dont want to waste the time and govt money if I dont have a chance of getting hired somewhere.
     
  8. Lennythedriver

    Lennythedriver Road Train Member

    1,945
    6,271
    Feb 14, 2020
    0
    Because you can’t work around doing drugs / medications like weed and Xanax. It won’t work. They’ll nail you eventually and god forbid you are ever in any crash with those in your system, it’s game over. Not worth it. You can’t work around things that are habit-forming when it comes to commercial truck driving. You either completely give them up and never revisit them again or they’ll bite you in the butt eventually.
     
    rachi Thanks this.
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,039
    142,319
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    ReachingEOL Thanks this.
  10. ReachingEOL

    ReachingEOL Bobtail Member

    10
    6
    Jul 2, 2020
    0
    Thanks again, Im going to give them a call at Southwest and talk to them. I need to give myself another month to get the pot out of my system for sure, my body fat is definitely going to put me on the longer end so I want to be safe rather than sorry before I start this. I see youre from Henderson, if this works out and we ever run into each other I owe you a beer or a meal.
     
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  11. ReachingEOL

    ReachingEOL Bobtail Member

    10
    6
    Jul 2, 2020
    0
    Xanax isnt on the 5 panel DOT test so I wonder how they could find it in any situation and I dont take it daily just when things put my anxiety through the roof. As for the pot I listened to a doctor and it was definitely a mistake but this wasnt on my radar at the time so I didnt think it would/could be an issue in any other area of my life.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.