Hello, I'm seriously considering becoming a truck driver, I currently hold a class B and drive for a friend of mines cable company, I'm a lineman by trade, but want to move up, however, I had a Drunk driving conviction in Rhode Island 9 or 10 years ago and I wanted to know if that conviction will hurt my chances of getting a job. basically I don't want to go $3,000 to $5,000 out of pocket only to find out that no one will hire me because of my drunk driving conviction. I'm 38, never had as much as a speeding ticket but only the DWI. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks

I went to school for tel-com and was a lineman for a year and a half before I got into driving.....I looked into going BACK to tel-com,..but would have to go back to school for two years to get back in,.....kinda wish I would have never left tel-com...
Depends on the company if they will care about a dui over 7 years...I have noticed lots of companies have slowed down their hiring..

OK, first off, I don't know what a company will say about this. My GUESS is that it won't be that much of a hurdle. But let me emphasize that is only a GUESS.

What I can tell you for sure, is that the recruiters for any school you want to go to will tell you it "won't be a problem." Keep in mind that they neither know, nor care what happens to you once you have signed the contract. (Many recruiters make used car salesmen and lawyers look like "salt of the earth" type people.)

What you need to do is get hold of some trucking companies and see what THEY say. Again, they have recruiters too. Try to go around them, and talk to someone in safety. They should be able to give you the righteous information on this.

As Walleye said, "a lot of companies have slowed down on their hiring." Unless you have been layed off, now would probably be a good time to bite the bullet and just stay where you are for a while. See what happens with the economy before making a major change. One that you may well find out is NOT for you, after you have spent all that money, and given up a good job.

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Thanks Big Don. Lineman work is "feast or famine" so for the last 22 years I've also been a dock worker. Most recently for Land Air and I asked our Terminal Manager if he would hire me and he said "yes, it was 10 years ago and people make mistakes." But he's biased, I do a great job for him and show up on weekends even when I just worked a full 60 hr. week for Time Warner. I appreciate your reply and the heads up on the recruiters. happy motoring!

Thanks Walleye, You gave me something to think about. I appreciate the information.

Some smaller company's may have an issue, due to there insurance company's.
I know that my company cannot hire anyone that ever had one. Many larger company's are self insured though. In that case it is up to the company.

My husband was able to get multiple pre-hires with one old DUI on his record. Yes, there were some companies that wouldn't take him, but there were lots that would. I would go for it.

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Ds,You're right up the road from where I live.Walleye and BigDon are right.Stay with your current job.The economic outlook for trucking is lousy and any demand for drivers until the later quarters of 2009 is low.I know you got the DWI awhile back and I don't know what Rhode Islands laws are on retainment of records but in New York State DWI falls off your record after 10 years unless there was a injury or fatality.If you do decide to get into trucking later on just remember every trucking companies job application will be different.Some companies will ask"Have you ever been convicted of DWI?"Others will ask"Have you been convicted of DWI in the last 10 years?"Things were alot simpler awhile back.If you had a license and passed a road test you got the job.Things change and to say we are an over regulated industry would be an under statement.Good luck.