Really would like to start truck driving please offer me advice!

Begging your pardon but you may wish to edit your post. I "goofed" at nothing. I'm a HazMat fuel driver and always have been. I never failed a drug test and am drug and alcohol-free. My position of advocating personal freedom in allowing drivers to do what they may on their off time is often misconstrued and incorrectly interpreted as an endorsement for driving and using drugs or alcohol, nothing could be further from the truth. Somehow, the overzealous often take the position that advocating for legalization of pot is somehow the same as wanting to drive while using...a weak argument but it's often all they have.

 

Perfection in a single area does not equal perfection of the person. I stand by my comment but recognize your point. It is always good to strive for the best a person can achieve.

 

I would agree with you that by no means would I consider myself or anyone perfect, but we can all strive to be perfect in some area of our lives, whether it be career, home life, weekend fun. Me personally I strive for home, and work as these two are the most important to me.

But out we all have to set some sort of goals for ourselves and to set out goals one must be able to attain something in the end for achieving those goals.

each day when we get up to start the day we already have our goal set up for that day and it is how I see it that people get and attain 3m miles or more by achieving those goals. Never once did I run into another driver who started the day off say well, looks like I'm going to have an accident today, or I figure I'll take out someone's property.

its when we get to the end of the day that we can take the time to reflect on what happened and to make changes if needed so the next day will be a safer day then today. After all getting to our final destination in one piece is all of our goals, and sadly to say not all of us make it.

 

I noticed the mistake he made when I read his post, and figured you'd be around to set the record straight, so I thanked him anyway because I think he made spot on points.

In a way I understand your position, but I also realize there's a fine line between use and abuse, so rather than disregard what a driver does during his/her off time, I think the best approach would be to ban all substances (except what one needs for medical reasons that in no way diminishes the ability to drive at complete alertness). No matter which drug one uses away from work, there are possible lingering effects that could affect good judgement (depression, irritability, for example). The fact that alcohol is completely accepted within the industry while everything else brands one with a scarlet letter is what I really have a problem with. Without asking you to repeat your position, if you could link to a post where you've presented it before would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Your trucking career is over.

 

Just about any thread where this pot discussion takes place I've chimed in. My personal position is similar to yours...cherry-picking a substance to ban based on politics alone (because it's certainly not based on empirical evidence derived from science) is dead wrong. I also would love to see alcohol banned for this reason AND the fact it is responsible for so many deaths on our highways. Since it won't happen I believe pot should be legal and treated as alcohol. Drive while on any mind-altering substance and suffer the consequences. Personally, I don't think the feds go far enough. Jail time should be automatic along with the license revocation. From my personal experience in my younger and wilder days...I've suffered hangovers that lasted for more than a day...residual effect from pot never lasted more than a few hours and certainly never longer than after a meal and a night/or day's sleep.

 

Simple lesson here. Don't do drugs. Any of them. You've only been told since childhood that they only lead to bad stuff. Obviously bad decisions. There's no excuse anymore. You've been told time after time after time and if you haven't figured it out already then you never will do people actually think there going to go to a company and NOT get tested??? This isn't rocket science. It's trucking. If you're screwing up before even getting your foot in the door, you're not cut out for this.

 

I will admit that I have not wasted my time by reading all 9 pages of this fine discussion .

I do however have one small problem with the OP the comment that Maryjane screwed me is as big a cop out as any I have heard.
Maryjane did nothing to you .
You screwed you !!!
Not the test not the drug nobody or nothing but your own stupidity .

The politics have nothing to do with it all the opinions in the world have nothing to do with it !
The simple fact is right or wrong failing a drug test is all on you !!!

The fact that you knew there would be a test and you still failed it speaks volumes about your readiness to be a professional driver .
You thought that you could beat the system and you failed .

If you want to be a driver call the cab company and see if they are hiring because when it comes to screwing the pooch right out of the gate you sir have knocked it out of the park .
Good luck and I hope you have learned something from this experience .

It is just a good thing you were not playing Russian roulette with anything more than your future in trucking .
So I guess the sound you hear is your future in trucking being shot in the head .

 

I don't see it as the op trying to beat the system. If that were the case there are multiple ways to get over on drug tests he could have employed. I believe he stated he quit and thought he waited long enough to pass. This isn't trying to beat the system...it's exactly how many drivers begin a new career and sobriety from substances.

 

But he didn't. And that's his problem.