Does Harbor Freight Drug Test?

If you are considering employment with Harbor Freight it is only natural to ask, does Harbor Freight drug test? Even if you aren’t a user, this is something you’ll likely wonder about. A drug test makes the hiring process all that much longer and more complicated.

With the difficulties of securing a reliable position in today’s society, it pays to know what you are up against before going in. At the very least, you’ll be prepared.

So, here’s what you need to know about Harbor Freight and its drug-testing policies. 

Does Harbor Freight Drug Test in 2024?

In order to completely understand Harbor Freight and its drug-testing policies, you need to understand where the company comes from, how they develop, and the policies that they hold near and dear to their hearts.

Harbor Freight’s history is a long and storied one and one that is more unique than most. One of the reasons for this is because they are a family-founded and operated business.

However, unlike so many family-owned businesses, the family still runs the company today. It was in 1977 when the father and son Smidt team founded the Harbor Freight business. Allan and Eric Smidt started the company as a small salvage business in North Hollywood, California.

Their goals were and still are today to put reliable, affordable tools and equipment in the hands of the men and women that need them most.

With over 40 years in business, over 1,000 stores, and 40 million reportedly happy customers, it is probably safe to say that they have more than succeeded in their conquests.

They continue to succeed today. It is easy to see why someone would want to get involved in such a dependable corporation. 

The Positions Available In Harbor Freight

When it comes to Harbor Freight employment there are one of four paths that employees can choose to walk. Well, actually employees are always granted the opportunities to switch and move up the corporate ladder at any time, but starting out, they will have to choose one role of four.

These would be the retail positions, customer associate positions, distribution positions, and management positions. 

Retail Positions – As you can imagine with most retail positions, employees will work from the physical outlets. You’ll be in one of the many Harbor Freight stores, serving customers, answering questions, loading, stocking, and taking care of the day-to-day running of a retail business.

Customer Associates – Most customer associates will work in a call center environment. You’ll likely be in a building based in a cubicle with other employees answering and fielding questions.

Customers will call in for technical support and warranty claims. It will be your job as a customer associate to answer and field these questions or direct them in the right direction. 

Distribution – If you don’t consider yourself a very customer-friendly individual, distribution will likely be the best career path for you. This is because there is little to no interaction with customers. A distribution employee could go a whole career without having to interact with customers.

Distribution employees are in warehouses and are responsible for loading, unloading, and rotating stock. Some employees might even get assembly positions, where they are required to assemble tools on site. 

Management – Management is the only section of Harbor Freight’s career path that one will likely need to work up to. Without a lot of previous experience, it is unlikely that you will start in a management position.

Management positions can vary with responsibilities of everything from managing employees to overseeing scheduling. There are store management positions available, cashier management positions, and district managers. Management is a position that someone will need to work his or her way up to. 

The Initiation Process

Harbor Freight just like many large corporate employers today will have an up-to-date website. Within this website, consumers can read about everything from the latest sales to the positions available in their specific region.

You always have the option of going down to your local Harbor Freight and putting in an application, but when you go online, you can actually search through the currently open positions.

You’ll likely be required to create a username and password that will later be used to identify you and the positions you have applied for.

Be prepared, as you will likely need to enter previous employment, academic qualifications, credit histories, and criminal pasts. Some positions might even require you to fill out a questionnaire or small test.

Most tests are designed without right or wrong answers and just gauge how employees would

react in specific situations. If you gather all your information ahead of time, it’ll make the entire process so much easier.

There is likely no time limit, but if you do the online application first and then visit the store in person, you’ll have a good idea of what to expect from the application. It is recommended to put in an application both online and in-person.

This only goes to double your chances of getting noticed. 

Going To The Interview

When you fill out and submit the application, you will be required to agree to a Harbor Freight background check. The background check may or may not be conducted until after the interview.

Regardless the next step in the process is the interview. This is when management will bring you into the store, sit down with you, and the position you are applying for.

They’ll explain what’s going to be expected of you as a Harbor Freight employee. They’ll also use this time to get a feel for you as a person or employee. Prepare to be on your best behavior and dress appropriately.

Exercising common sense can go a long way. Be prepared to answer questions about why you want to work for Harbor Freight, what you expect to get from the experience, and where you see yourself in 10 years or so. 

Drug Testing Policies

You’ll be glad to know that Harbor Freight does not drug test for most entry-level positions. If you are getting hired on in the retail department as a cashier or stocker, you can almost guarantee that you won’t be tested.

This doesn’t mean, however, that Harbor Freight can’t later test you. This is something you will be required to agree to before getting hired.

Harbor Freight will reserve the right to drug test you anytime they see fit. While they do not conduct random tests, you should always exercise caution and recreational drug use on the job. Keep in mind that this is not for all positions.

If you are applying for a management position or something within the corporate office, you might be required to take a pre-employment test. Other than this, management won’t require a test unless there is an incident or an accusation from a customer or employee.

See Also: Does QuikTrip Drug Test?

The Type Of Drug Test

If you are eventually required to take a drug test with the Harbor Freight Corporation, it will likely be a 5 or 7-panel urine test. These are the most common and basic tests conducted in the retail world.

They are your basic urine tests, where you’ll be required to urinate into a cup that will later be sent to a testing facility.

The 5 or 7-panel test is rightly named because it will scan the system for 5 or 7 substances. These usually include but are not limited to THC, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines.