Enjoying these threads.

Ya...I did it twice after it became legal here in California back in January. Never ever did it before. Don't really care to use it, or drink. Personally I'm against people under the influence of anything that would impair their driving, or anything that might effect me or other unsuspecting people, including driving while tired. That is a biggie...

 

I called Navajo just to see what a typical protocol was like with a recruiter. The recruiter was nice but said that he's been following this thread and I was excluded. Just kidding...

He said because of California pay structure they're not hiring drivers here at this time. I don't remember who in here said that some companies are opting out of Ca. because of the Cannabis being legalized. I don't know if that's true or not. Still California is the worlds 5th largest economy and it seemed a bit odd to me.

Thanks for your help again @Chinatown

 

I think it's because of California's pay demands on trucking companies, which can hurt or help the drivers.
It's something to do with hourly pay when the driver isn't driving. That can hurt the driver because it counts against his available hours to work, including driving hours available. Hourly pay is logged as "On Duty-Not Driving".
It's nothing to do with Cannabis.

 

Right. Also because California has stricter overtime laws for trucking companies. Federal law exempts companies from paying truck drivers overtime if they choose not to, something @otterinthewater may not be aware of.

 

This TEST lets you know how you stand as a truck driver and overtime.

 

When you are applying fr a driving job you are just an application. Any story you tell is assumed to be a lie. Some recruiters are paid for each application that is accepted while I assume better companies only pay recruiters for drivers that get hired or work some period of time. The point being, the recruiter, dispatcher, medical doctor, medical technicians, etc are not your friends. They are not counselors. They have jobs and learn to quickly classify your interaction with them into one of the very few boxes they must put everyone into. Answer EXACTLY the questions on the application. Don't volunteer info thinking that a long friendly conversation will help you get hired.

My opinion is to wait out the 6 months ( you will likely be clean enough for urinalysis 30-60 days after last contact). But if you wait out the 6 months you will pass the hair follicle test without question. BTW, don't ask the recruiter if they test your urine or do they test hair. You might as well tell them you smoke pot daily. NOBODY asks that question because they are clean.

 

If you are mature and pass CDL school you will be in demand when looking for a job. Don't do anything to show the company otherwise and don't, I beg you, assume you have to work at some bottom-feeder company until you can work someplace better. The difference between working for a bottom-feeder company and a good stable company is easily the deciding factor between staying in this job and getting chewed up and spit out within the first year.

You can start at some good to excellent companies if you learn the skills at school, pass a DOT medical exam, pass a drug test, can document your work history and/or document gaps in employment (generally over 30 days). You can buy a pee test from a drug store and see if you pass at home. I hear some edibles make it easier to get more THC in your body in one event than even the biggest Bob Marley "cigar" and some edibles are very mild. 2 brief events is likely to not show up in a hair test, from my wild guess. Hair tests usually are best at detecting longer term chronic, forgive the pun, use. Urine tests detect use within the last 30 days. Just to be safe why not wait until the 6 months is completed? IMHO

 

Excellent advice. Thanks.

 

My $.02 - It sounds like you'd do great in this industry. I got so burned out and stressed in my previous career to the point it was affecting my health. I've been trucking for 3 years and have no regrets. Sure there are bad days and a certain degree of stress but for the first time in my life I love my job.

The only thing I would caution you on is taking the family along. Maybe a run here and there would be okay but not for weeks at a time. Imagine living with them in a space the size of a closet. You'll be on each other's nerves before long.

 

Yah

Family is not going to allow you to bring in women while your out...

Let them stay at home so a man can be a man!