Sober Addict Starting CDL School with Accident/Criminal/Medical Check Questions?

Whatever the outcome, stay clean and sober.
Second chances are rare. You are worth it.

 

"The DOT Long-Form" concerns me."
That is nothing but results from your DOT physical which is a joke in itself. They do not check your urine for drugs only for Sugar, protein etc.

 

Then do not disclose any addiction issues that did not affect employment areas.
You will need to disclose the accidents and make sure they understand you were not at fault.
Tickets can be a big stumbling block in getting insurance approval.
If you run into issues with background or citations drive a Class 8 tow truck. Many tow companies have much more flexible insurance and you will find it easier to get hired. Towing Semi's is fun too, people are almost always glad to see you and your efforts are appreciated.

 

I've gotta agree with the main consensus here.

The answer is NO. And when they rephrase the question, your answer better be HELL NO.

Don't admit to anything, your background check will consist of previous employers and criminal history. If your charge was expunged and isn't on your record don't mention it, but make sure it was actually removed from your record to be safe.

I wouldn't even mention rehab. Say you were unemployed. Your mom was sick and you had to take care of her or something.

Congrats on the sobriety. My brother went through rehab and has been clean for almost 5 years now. No record of what he went through. Medical confientiality laws also apply to rehab clinics.

 

Just remember..Subox is Gov't Heroin..... and it's not legal, either...in the eyes of DOT. Congrats, man. Kudos to the nines.

 

One thing you didn't mention is your work history. ..it's kind of a big deal in the hiring process...Hopefully you have something solid there. And lastly, from what I've read trucking can be a very stressful job in the beginning. I only mention it as you are in the early stages of your recovery and vulnerable to relapse.
Good luck and keep us posted on your road to trucking.

 

Be prepared for BMI and sleep apnea questions and answer them with the fact that you may be denied work in mind.
Credit history can also be an issue.
Do not disclose social networking identities.
Some companies will jam a microscope into places they really have no business, avoid any lifestyle questions as well.

A dedicated route is better than running helter skelter OTR. Dedicated routes are often promised and then bait and switched. Do not accept an "interim" position with empty promises. "No Thanks, I'll wait for the promised position" then keep looking for other positions. Once you accept a position it can be difficult to make a clean break. Many companies will make bad reports to driver history compilers even if you are not at fault.

If you are going to run OTR for pennies a mile be prepared to be jacked over by your dispatch. Time off even when preplanned is often not honored. They may route you somewhere that has no freight and hang you out to dry. Or they may give you a load that sends you farther from your intended destination.

Be careful accepting a co-driver/trainer they can be ruthless pricks and make life miserable for you. Personal hygiene, bad attitudes, unwilling to perform shared duty, theft, and more. Many companies will push team driving on you and remember team pay is split. Do not loan a co-driver or trainer money.

Do not allow a dispatcher to talk you into doing something against trucking regulations, you are the one who will pay the fine. Some dispatchers can be super pricks and jack you around making promises that are quickly forgotten. And remember that if you do them a favor once, you will be expected to do it again next time. No freebe's this is a job, you should get paid for what you do.

If you are issued a truck take lots of pictures and do a write up on the condition of the truck and keep it somewhere safe (save to an SD card and mail home). Do not abandon your truck (especially under load), You may be charged with abandonment if you do not take the truck to your home yard.

Keep notes on any standby situations and keep dispatch in the loop before a wait goes bad, cover your butt and make sure you get paid what you are due.

When/if you have a Qualcomm, Do not take routing instructions verbally. All Qualcomm messages are stored and may protect you from a rogue dispatcher telling you to do something prohibited. Do not accept a load that you know you can't complete in the allotted time, due to hours restrictions or weather or any other circumstances.

 

I'm a recovering heroin addict as well. I've been clean and serene since '08 and I've been a trucker since '09. Before I got clean, I was in and out of many many rehab and detox facilities (too many to remember) and few methadone clinics too. I've never had a prospective employer check on such things (it is a violation of medical privacy laws).

I have been asked on applications if I've ever abused any substances or been treated for substance abuse. If they ask this on an application or pre-employment questionnaire, ALWAYS answer NO. It is none of their business and you WILL be sent home on the next greyhound if you answer yes. Your past is your business and as long as you maintain your sobriety, it has no bearing on your ability to do your job. I'm well versed in the teachings of AA/NA and the whole deal about being honest in all of your affairs, but to do so in this situation would cause harm to yourself. If you feel conflicted by this advice, call your sponsor.

Also, as a caveat, drugs are out there on the road. You need to really make sure that you are at a good place in your recovery before hitting the big road and living an essentially drifter lifestyle. Most of the time you will be a long way from any type of support network and there is no one but yourself to hold you accountable. If you want my honest opinion, from one junkie to another, wait a few more months before leaving your network behind. It's very important to see and be seen, by people who know what to look for, on a regular basis in that very fragile first year of sobriety. Take the time to make sure you've got yourself in check first, and trucking will still be there when you're ready.

Good luck in whatever you decide. Feel free to ask, or PM me, if you have any other specific questions. And remember, Just for today, to keep your thoughts on your recovery.