Question:
First off, I'm not a driver. I have a class A, but have never been drug tested, and am not involved the trucking industry (except reading these forums).
Anyway, I do have a couple questions about how drug testing works.
At big carriers, such as J.B., are the collections done at terminals?
Or do they Qualcomm you and say you have certain amount of time to get to a clinic? I read somewhere there's a five hour window to get to the clinic.
If you drive for a smaller carrier that may not subscribe to DAC and fail your test, does that mean that only you and the carrier know? Or is the state automatically notified.
If you consistently test dirty, would it be possible to just keep signing on with carriers that don't care.
Finally, the big question. Are many drivers really using drugs? It seems that it would be very difficult. With pre, random, and post accident testing, from an outsiders view, it doesn't seem many would be using.
Just curious, thanks everybody.

Answer:

There is a time frame for you to take the test once you're notified, but I can't remember what it is. Also, I've never worked for a company that uses QualCom, so I can't answer that part. I've always been notified once I got to the yard.

I don't know if the State is automatically notified or not.

Yes, it's possible. But if the company even does a halfway decent background / employment check, you will be found out before you would have the chance to hit the road.

I've never personally witnessed any drug use by drivers on the road, although you will hear someone holler for some on the cb almost at every truckstop.
As far as pre-employment, random and post accident testing, I've only had 4 tests in the last 5 years. 3 of those were within the first 18 months of that 5 year period. Of the 4 tests, 1 was random, 3 were pre-employment.
The following links should provide you with the answers you seek.
Part 40 Drug and Alcohol Regulations
PART 382 -- : Title (CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND ALCOHOL USE AND TESTING)
Interpretations

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Thanks Hoss, I was hoping you would see this post because I knew you would give an honest, straightforword answer.

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A year and a half with my company, randomly tested once. Had to bobtail to a clinic out on the road somewhere.
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Did your employer pay you for the miles you drove or a fixed rate for being tested on the road?? Where I work we are only tested when on duty & being paid.

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Must be one of those employers that is subject to an Organized Labor contract.

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Yes......a collective barginning agreement & the railway labor act.

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I got the call just last week. Boss called on the company radio with the msg to "see me",so I asked her if I should bring my own cup.
We haul rock and sand, so are paid on tonnage, but also have a set hourly rate for certain jobs or if they need us on the concrete truck. Once every couple of months is enough of that though. Anyway when we "get the call" we just keep track of our time and note it on the time card.

Answer:
As for JB Hunt. They do both on site collection at some terminals and at others they out source the work.
The randoms are done at yearly reviews and at quarterly safty training.
Every 3 months you have to go in for a safty review. The computter will pull two people for a random. You then go directly to the clinic or to the test site.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

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Yes. Couple of hours and 80-some miles, whatever it was.
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Yes. Couple of hours and 80-some miles, whatever it was.
GOOD...........

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How often you'll get tested depends largely on the company. Some of them with a large enough turnover can satisfy the Fed's requirements just on new hires alone.
As far as removing the drug users? Yippee skip
There are still a lot of places that don't bother to test and at least one in Salt Lake City (not England) that notifies their drivers a month in advance that they have to take a random.