How to tactfully back out of an orientation?

Why? If there is better out there why are you willing to take a step back?
Be polite and don't lie will tend to not burn a bridge sure, but I would never take a step backwards. At worst I'll make a lateral move if that's what is required.

 

But he was not going to work for the company, so he wasn't dodging anything, and he would have to test for the new company. They also have to pay for those tests, and if he didn't fork the money over, I doubt if they would be happy to learn he took a test and wasn't even going to work for them. He probably should have explained and asked what they wanted him to do.

 

I have no idea what taking a step back means. I just said to do things the proper way and not cause any ill feelings.

 

You have missed my point. That comment I made was a warning to NEVER leave a secure testing area during orientation. Honestly, it can cause you months of headaches! Once that carrier secures the test you are NOT allowed to leave. Who pays for the testing is not the issue, if you are planning to work for them later also is not the issue. I am not trying to be a hardarse here. Drivers do this on a regular basis and they almost always get tagged!

 

Please explain this, do you mean once they make an appointment or once you walk in the office, or once you walk in and empty your pockets.

 

I will be brief. There are three types of DOT drug tests. Pre-Employment, Random and for cause. When you are invited to and schedule an orientation with a carrier in almost all instances they will do the pre-employment collections somewhere near the orientation location. Once they start the orientation the people that are running the orientation will establish the controlled area where they want ALL the drivers to stay until they have their urine collected. This is what I mean by securing the test. Some carriers use a hallway, I know of one that uses the classroom where the drivers just sit until called. A driver MUST stay in this area until they finish the collection process. With this said, my last orientation the clinic that did our physicals also did this collection. There are a lot of variables to this. My point was though, DO NOT walk out until told you can leave. Doing so can be and most of the time is considered REFUSING to test!

 

I don't agree, but thanks for the answer.

 

You don't agree about what? The secured area or the REFUSAL TO test if you leave it?

 

Which is EXACTLY what I said to do. Discuss this with the company testing. Most times I am sent to a lab before even going to orientation. Saves a lot of time and expense. The one time I did it at orientation I had to go the the lab upon arrival and test. Orientation started the next day.