Troubled Past

It's not the companies that won't hire you it's their insurance that won't let them hire you. You can try the large mega carriers like Swift and Walmart. They are all self insured so it's up to them.

If you have been clean for a while you can try going back to court and seeing a judge. Ask the Clerk of Courts if he/she will allow the judge to hear you out. If so, get a haircut, clean shave suit and tie. Tell the judge your trying to turn yourself around and would he seal your records. That means a background check for truck driving would show nothing on you.

As far as getting your own truck and insurance it would take a simple phone call to an agent and ask the question. Chances are you would be in the $12,000 to $18,000 a year range.

 

I am not an o/o, so I'll give you that right there.

Brokers and some places do check history from what I have seen. I think your issue would be getting insured. The price would be astronomical, which is probably part of the reason nobody is giving you a chance.

What you might do is do something else until those things fall off your record. Many companies only do a 3 year mvr, so if you've been a year without incident then you'll need two more years.

Don't go on my words alone, I'm only parroting what I've seen posted countless other times from people in a similar spot as you. You'll get many more informed answers.

In addition, make sure you've added your location, what you'd prefer to haul, and if you have a criminal record. Someone may know if a company that'll take you, just keep in mind they won't be pretty.....

 

Yep the insurance companies are the ones pulling the strings.
And should never be.
They set the prices and ask for more and more money.
This is why many O/O are getting our of the business and drivers are giving up driving.

At some time that will change when in time.

A company will have to make up their minds of fixing the truck or hiring a driver or paying the insurance company or sell off the truck and the job with it.

Money is tight and not everyone is going to get paid, some thing will have to change and soon.

 

I had a criminal record, got it expunge by the state, i have a very good job.

Also lot's of companies don't care if your stuff is 5 to 10 years old!

I believe every man deserve a 2nd chance.

Good luck

 

they can't bond you,,best to find a small company and work for them for several years if not more, you can not get into many military bases too

 

It's not up to a small or large company. It's up to the insurance company. Before I can hire a driver the insurance company has to approve them. In some cases they may say yes, you can hire him but your premium just went up $15,000 a year.

 

The problem is mainly the MVR record. Criminal will prevent you from doing certain govt and military loads as you will not be allowed on the base when they run your background at the guard/check in building to get your gate pass. Many carriers dont do those kinds of loads,.. or if its known you cant get into those places would not dispatch you for those types of loads.

The problem is your driving record. Your trying to get a job doing something where your past history shows you as reckless and an insurance risk. I tried to hire a guy with 1 speeding ticket and 2 bad DOT inspections. The only way to hire him would be to pay a $6000 premium on top of my existing insurance. I offered to hire the driver if the driver would pay the premium out of his salary in payments. I'm not going to pay for his mistakes out of my pocket. There are better drivers who have taken better care of their license. He refused so I sent him on his way.

That is what you are up against. The way I see it you have a few options. See about getting your record expunged. That will be one less thing hanging over your head. Then depending how your over all lifetime driving record is,.. if what you have currently is all thats on your record and nothing else,.. hire an attorney to petition a judge to strike your traffic convictions. Basically wipe them clean. The judge will look at your lifetime driving record. If its a mess with tickets and suspensions,.. you can pretty much hang up that idea. The other is to find some other work until your record clears up and you look better on paper.

Buying your own truck can work,.. but it will be an expensive up hill battle. With out a real understanding of how the industry works, your asking for more heartaches and problems. You will have to get your own authority as leasing the truck on to another carrier will put you in the same position you are in now. Their insurance simply will not cover you. That means you will need to buy a trailer also. New Authority with a bad MVR will be expensive,.. expect your insurance to cost $25,000+ annually. You would almost be better off hiring a driver to drive the truck.

I hate to sound critical,.. but this is all on you. You are and will continue to pay for your mistakes for a long time. I had a DUI in 1993 and in certain situations I still get that thrown in my face. Get your head on straight and clean up your act. You can find a job in trucking,.. but until your MVR cleans up,. I dont think its going to happen anytime soon. The only way would be with some of the larger companies who are self insured,.. and there are so many other drivers with spotless records,.. it will be difficult. Expect to be treated like a disease by this industry until your record cleans up. Keep knocking on doors,.. who knows,.. maybe you'll get lucky and someone can make it work. You wont know unless you try. How bad do you want to be in trucking?

Hurst

 

To be a trucking company you have to have what is called authority. You would be considered a new authority so higher risk