Can I become a trucker with a federal felony?

That only real difference with driving a flatbed is how you back. When you go to trucking school, they will teach you to "alley dock," or back at a 90 degree angle. Out here in the real trucking world, very seldom will you be able to back at a 90.

If you drive flatbed, your trainer will end up undoing everything you were taught in school and re-teaching you how to back. Most flatbed trailers have spread axles so you'll have to back at a 45 degree angle setup and you'll learn to keep the tires moving to get into a spot, as opposed to jack-knifing tandems into a spot.

The way you'll learn to back a spread axle flatbed actually will make you a more skilled, versatile driver. If you learn to back a spread axle, you'll be able to back any trailer.

 

Now I'm confused. You said probation, but if you were in prison and got released, you would be on parole, not probation.
Probation and parole are similar concepts, but they are not the same. One difference between probation and parole is that you get probation instead of jail or prison time. Parole gets you released from incarceration before the end of your sentence.

 

If you’re still on probation I doubt anyone would hire if not on probation I would make phone calls to see if you can find somebody who will hire you before you spend the money for school

 

I live about 60 miles from the Canadian border, and did about half of my CDL-A driving in Canada, mostly in Ontario and Quebec. Aside from a period in the 1970's when the Canadian dollar was about $1.03 US, it has always been less than the US dollar. One period in the 90's, it was something like $1.42CAN = $1.00US. As of today, $1.36CAN=$1.00US, so it is VERY low against the US dollar currently. Try to keep up; this was an extremely easy Google search....

Federal sentences must be completed in their entirety, since parole is not offered for federal crimes.

 

Go back and read the words again. There are 2 timelines mentioned. The first one is 7 years from the date of conviction, then the last one is 5 years after your release from prison. A serious felony might cause being locked up for over 7 years. The way they worded it means if you do less than 7 years they want at least 5 years to pass after being released before you can get a TWIC or haul Hazmat. I know a guy that did almost 4 years at FCI Loretto for fraud. This was almost 4 1/2 years after his conviction date. He still had to wait the full 5 years after he physically was released to get a TWIC card.

 

If I were in your shoes I would just find a company that has its own school, that way you get both your CDL and a job.

 

My question is, are you going to walk a straight line now. or are you going to fall back and use the truck to transport drugs. The decision is yours . We had another driver on here Jbrown, simular to your situation, from what i here , he is doing great, changed his life, doing very well now. you have what 11 years clean? Its a start. I dont know what to say, your words speak for them selves. We have a Great driver here, Chinatown, If he decides to help you, is a world of knowledge with Trucking Companies, and situations like yours.