Can a "felon" get a break?

Really? Are you sure enough about that to advise this driver to give up trucking? And do you speak from personal knowledge? Or, is this just a biased opinion.

You see, I am by no means proud to say this, but I have more felonies than I care to list, served three terms in San Quentin (1971: 6 mos. - 15 yrs, 1976: 2 yrs - 15 yrs, 1982: 3 yrs, and 1988: 5 yrs. on a 9 yrs. term in Folsom), and I only do so only so that a new driver is not thwarted from pursuing a career based on prejudice. I've also been a class a driver for 15 yrs. Homeland Security did deny me clearance initially for a HazMat, but gave it to me on appeal. So, Paradimethal (Some handle there) your problem isn't the felony, it's inexperience. With 25 yrs military service you are far more deserving than I could ever hope to be. Many companies consider only felonies in the last 5-7 yrs. Drugs and crimes involving "moral turpetude" are more in the realm of those that are disqualifying. Just keep at it, try smaller companies that hire based on personal presentation rather than old history.

If you go to <link to other trucking forums not allowed>, then click on 'Trucking Companies' you'll get an extensive list of trucking company profiles. Within the company info they have their policy on hiring felons, some say 'Never', some after 5-7 yrs., and others say 'Will consider'. Also, don't volunteer information. If asked, Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Answer No. If asked, Have you ever been arrested for a felony? Answer Yes. If they don't ask; don't volunteer. Never lie, you don't want to get a dispatch into Canada and find yourself in a bureaucratic nightmare.

 

NOTE: First off i have no felonies (yay!)

OK,
1) i'm glad you landed a gig, but to answer the question, yes you can find a gig with a felony---or several felonies; Some companies are somewhat unscrupulous and don't give a ####. i know of a few if anyone wants to email me.

2) college degree, 130 i.q. etc., and all that is immaterial in any situation; Look at bernie jerkoff, martha stewart etc.

3) Please tell me more about Gardener as i am seriously looking at one of their divisional twins.

 

What do you want to know about Gardner?? Are you thinking about Dirksen? Or Lanting Hay?

 

Yeah, i'm thinking of Dirksen;

Mainly how busy you can get---weekly mileage?

Customers

And general areas that they run; i did see a few of them on I-10 in california the last time i went out there.

Thanks.

 

Light loads,lots of soda cans. pull 57' foot trailers with COE's. 2500-3000 miles per week if you are a runner,not sure on actual pay on the Dirksen side as it was different than the Gardner pay structure.Level 4 at Gardner paid $185 for a 380 mile trip,some were only 240 miles at $185.Ontario CA to SLC paid $330.backhauls were considerably less.

 

You do mean a 53 foot trailer, don't you?

 

There are 57' trailers. Frito Lay has a mess of them

 

OK, cool. This sounds good as i am a runner.

Are coe's the only legal way to tow 57's? i know california has some kinky rules.

 

As long as you've been driving I would imagine you know what you're talking about. I've never heard of 57' trailers in California. Maybe it's because I'm not sure what a C.O.E. is.

California Vehicle code says:

Combination of Vehicles: Additional Exceptions

35401.5. (a) A combination of vehicles consisting of a truck tractor and semitrailer, or of a truck tractor, semitrailer, and trailer, is not subject to the limitations of Sections 35400 and 35401, when operating on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways or when using those portions of federal-aid primary system highways that have been qualified by the United States Secretary of Transportation for that use, or when using routes appropriately identified by the Department of Transportation or local authorities as provided in subdivision (c) or (d), if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The length of the semitrailer in exclusive combination with a truck tractor does not exceed 48 feet. A semitrailer not more than 53 feet in length shall satisfy this requirement when configured with two or more rear axles, the rearmost of which is located 40 feet or less from the kingpin or when configured with a single axle which is located 38 feet or less from the kingpin. For purposes of this paragraph, a motortruck used in combination with a semitrailer, when that combination of vehicles is engaged solely in the transportation of motor vehicles, camper units, or boats, is considered to be a truck tractor.


Now, I know there are Intermodal chassis' that slide to 57'. Understand, I am not trying to contradict you, I'm just curious about a trailer length I've never heard of and what problems would be encountered with the 40' kingpin to rearmost axle (Bridge Law).

 

Try swift transportation the may get you in,good luck