No jobs!!!

I saw that article as well, and like Turbo, I am not quite sure how I feel about it. While I may be willing to give people second chances, there are some completely valid reasons why people with felony convictions are not encouraged to get into the trucking workforce. At the minimum, time has to elapse between the offense and the job application so that there is a background and record to go off of.

If your combination of age, inexperience, and past history holds you back, then you may just have to wait it out until enough time has gone by that an employer will take a look. CDL drivers are held to a higher standard of behavior than the general public, and that applies to the admissions part of the job as well.

 

When I was in business, I hired approximately ten drivers who had felony records. They ranged from five years to 11 years in their pasts. I rejected about 20 in the same period of time. It was never an issue of my being deperate for drivers. I did this because I knew that the large companies don't give some people a chance. My criteria was simple. I looked for honesty, and a sense that they owned up to what they did, and that their lives in general were stable and had been since they were convicted and/or released. Only one of the ten proved to be a mistake. He's back in the Federal Pen in Atlanta now, or was as of four years ago.

None of what I hauled was sensitive in nature, and there is no Federal prohibition against hiring those with felonies in their past. You just have to make sure that it's documented in their employment record, and I always took a bit more care to document the file with evaluations of their progress.

I'm conservative enough to think that we really don't need more problem people in the trucking industry, but the liberal side of me says, that we also have to consider that if all ex-convicts are met continuously with closed doors, what chances do they ever have of turning their lives around in a positive manner?

There's a bunch of guys out there with records. I've met and talked to a few of them. I've personally met two that served time for murder. One killed his wife. The other killed a man in a bar fight. Both of these guys were likeable, friendly, from the state of Texas, and while open about what they had done, regretted very much their past. It was due to the conversations with both of these men, that I changed some of my closed minded thinking on the subject. Had they not told me of their past, I'd have thought that they were just like me. And the thing was, they were. They just had a past that was not like mine. While I don't think I've ever done a thing that could have been considered felonious in nature, nor have I ever been arrested for a thing, I've certainly a few things in my past life that I regret to this day.

Now, don't get me wrong. There are plenty of examples of people that should never see the light of day again, and should never be afforded a second chance, but there are others do deserve that second chance.

A few years back, there were actually companies that actively set up training facilities to train people to drive trucks, and companies that worked to hire them. It didn't last long. And surprise...surprise...Swift was right there in the midst of that little experiment. Why didn't it work out? Because they couldn't even keep ex-cons in those seats in higher numbers than those that had never been arrested for a thing.

The trucking industry is a melting pot for all kinds of people, with all kinds of backgrounds and cultures. It can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing too.

We suffer an immense image problem, starting with the personal appearance of some people, who obviously don't care or have a clue how bad they look. We know that many drivers need to take more care with the way they drive, and to refrain from terrorizing others with their trucks. We need to see respect for fellow drivers come back into the picture, rather than to hear the racial insults, the disrespect towards any woman who keys up a CB microphone women, and the silly and demeaning comments that can be heard, based on what you drive, how much chrome you may have on a truck, or how fast it can go.

Is there room for a few people who screwed up in their past lives? I think so, but only if they truly want to leave their past where it is.

 

Well said Turbo, This goes along with the society in general. If you have any doubts about this, just go to your local Walmart, sit on the bench in front of the store, and watch!! And "we" as Americans wonder why respect is a thing of the past for America!!

Felonies or not, if you want to drive, change your life. Prove that you have changed, and someone, somewhere will give you the chance to prove it!! Just be dedicated enough to prove to them that you have changed. Because the door the may only swing open once!!

 

mthr trucker any luck yet?

 

i agree completely.

it was 6 months since last post, i wonder what happened? hope it was good

 

The reports of my falling off the face of the earth are grossly exaggerated. I hope everyone is well and that I was missed.

I'm doing well and the new post got hurt but is minor and will be going back on the road soon.

I got an odd PM about Felonies, and decided to look into th whys and whereof so to speak.

I have a a couple of felonies they happened in 1985 & 86. neither crime involved a gun in th commission of said crimes even tho on was the possession of a gun the having it was the crime. The other was an Aggravated Assault a fight which I did not start but I did over react and went overboard with defending myself.

That said, it affected my obtaining a post with the big companies. There are two that I know overlook the felony Mansur Trucking Inc out of Janesville Wisconsin, and Davis Tranport Inc out of Missoula,Montana whom I had the pleasure of working for, for about a week 8 days to be exact, so keep in mind that they are extreme about safety if you apply with them.

One last word on the comps that say 5,7or even 10 years past for felonies keep this in mind, they are in no way bound to hire you based on that wether its in print or not and they look at the type of felony in the decision making process violent crimes are a big problem for them

Be Safe Be well and Be between the lines, and remember its alwys better to offtrack th to encroach

 

Try getting Bonded.... It will cost you some $$$ But you may land a JOB with that in place... So I've heard...

Just a thought.....

All the best, and Good Luck...
><atthew

 

how do u get bonded

 

Swift will not hire them unless the felonies are 7+ years. And if they are drug related dont even bother.