Looking at going OTR

TOO MANY people think having a felony conviction = no HazMat endorsement. That's not true. The specific convictions that prohibit HazMat endorsement permanently or for 7 years from end of sentence at only SOME convictions. Instead of asking what conviction is keeping your from getting HazMat, look at this below and see if your conviction is listed. If your conviction isn't on the TSA DQ list then you are elegible for a HazMat endorsement. You could have been a drug dealer, bank robber, shoplifter, beat up every girlfriend, steal cars every weekend, etc and still pass the TSA HME background check. Almost everyone mistakenly thinks HazMat requires no felony convictions for anything.

TSA Hazmat Disqualifications
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has specific criteria that disqualify individuals from obtaining a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) on their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). These disqualifications are categorized into permanent and interim offenses.

Permanent Disqualifying Offenses
An applicant is permanently disqualified if they have been convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity for any of the following felonies:

• Espionage or conspiracy to commit espionage
• Sedition or conspiracy to commit sedition
• Treason or conspiracy to commit treason
• Federal crime of terrorism or comparable state law
• Crimes involving a transportation security incident
• Improper transportation of hazardous materials
• Unlawful use, possession, or distribution of explosives
• RICO violations (if the underlying crime is disqualifying)

Interim Disqualifying Offenses
Certain offenses disqualify applicants temporarily, depending on the timing of the conviction or release from incarceration:

• Convictions for unlawful possession, use, or distribution of firearms or weapons within the last seven years
• Assault with intent to murder
• Immigration violations
• Fraud, dishonesty, or misrepresentation
• Distribution or possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

An applicant is also disqualified if they are currently wanted or under indictment for any felony listed above.

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for an HME, applicants must:

• Be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents
• Not have any disqualifying criminal offenses
• Be at least 21 years old
• Pass a TSA background check, which includes fingerprinting and checks against various databases

These measures are in place to ensure that individuals who transport hazardous materials do not pose a risk to national security or public safety.

 

What was your crime ? I had hazmat for ten years with a criminal record three pages long with a paragraph on the fourth. Three drug charges with a felony for good measure. Nobody will judge you.

 

If I was living in Utah I’d try getting on with Swire Coke out of Draper.

I haven’t a clue of how much they make but it sure has to be decent. I see sleeper trucks in there pulling doubles and from my view looks like it could be a pretty good gig.

CR England and Swift you aren’t even going to get close to what you’re wanting to get.

 

I'm thinking line haul for the win. F a bunch of OTR.

 

In the reefer world a decent amount of freight actually comes in and out of Utah...I don't mind going in there because I know it won't be long before I'm heading right back out.

 

I use to go to one of their locations in Renton, WA a lot.. Was talking to a driver struggling to back up and he said it was his first time backing up a truck. Thought he was joking but turns out Swire will train you to get your CDL. At least that location did.

They got a bunch of locations and I always enjoyed picking and delivering for them.

The Draper location is nice, newish and big. The only place I’ve seen the sleeper trucks hauling doubles..been awhile but I think they were 53’ doubles.

 

Swire Coca Cola:

 

Swire Coca Cola Hong Kong:

 

I just wrote down their locations for my notebook:
Locations: Arizona | California | Colorado | Idaho | Kansas | Nebraska | Nevada | New Mexico | Oregon | South Dakota | Utah | Washington | Wyoming