Multiple Mention Thread

Quite honestly, I'd keep looking. Both are bad apples at the moment. CRST has a CONFIRMED turnover rate of 180%, and FFE is probably in the same neighborhood.

 

Take what Turbo had said to heart, both those comapnies are bad news..

I have not had much contact with CRST drivers but have heard horror out of FFE, the biggest is the games they play with payrole...

 

I appreciate the info, but I'm not sure what alternative I have. Nobody else is offering me a job, so unless someone knows of another company who hires drivers out of Florida with a felony, I'll have to choose between the two of them. I think FFE will be my choice, as their pay is better, at least on paper. If I do end up having to go with FFE, any suggestions on what I can do to minimize problems with payroll? I mean, I can see a company trying to dick you around, but they can't out and out screw you can they? I mean, there are laws against that sort of thing.

 

first, please try to use a better wording than that which i bold/underlined/italiced.

next, as for payroll, always be sure to get your paperwork in on time. most companies (when you are on the road) will have you "mail" the pay sheets to them, either by FedEx, DHL, or UPS express.

always make sure your "ducks are in a row" when you fill out the paperwork/paysheets as well, as ANY mistakes will delay your paycheck, or the proper compensation.

 

I don't mean any offense at all towards you, but think about this for a second. If companies that might be worth considering, are turning you down, and these two are ready to hire you, what does that tell you?

I know it's easy to think that they are giving you a break, but the reality of the situation is that these companies are among many that are just going through too many people, and that's not for no reason.

You think you have no options, and that may well be the case, but give us a few more details, if you don't mind. There HAS to be something else out there for you.

What is your experience level, and what was the nature of the felony and how far in your past was this?

What are your postive aspects? See...you're mentioning the negative issues, but not the positive. I think you're settling, when you could be striving.

You have to understand something. Trucking companies that are engaged in Interstate Commerce can just about do pretty much what they want to drivers, and this site is evidence of that fact.

You have to protect yourself from abuse, rather than to walk into it with both eyes open.

Based on what I know, FFE probably would be the better choice, if that is your only option, but I don't think that this is the case. What I would do, if I were in your situation, is to aim smaller.

Smaller as in the size of the company. Look at your localized carriers with smaller fleets. Not only are you likely to find things more workable and personal, you'll find a little more understanding about things like a past.

I realize that you think that you have a problem and a time line that dictates that you take whatever you can find, but that is a mistake that drivers make over and over, and it royally screws up their work records, when they discover that the company they settled for, was a piece of crap, and a horror to work for.

Okay...I just found your other post, which answered some questions. Your felony is 11 years old, and you have no experience. What you need to find is a company that doesn't go into Canada. Felonies of any age are not disregarded there, and carriers that routinely do business in Canada cannot use you. That's okay....there are options.

Rather than to go through a back and forth process, why not mention the companies that have turned you down so far. Maybe if we all put out heads together, we can find something a bit better than what you have turned up so far.

Update # 2 - You've been turned down by Roehl and Schneider. That's okay. Where in Florida do you live, because I may have some options for you....other than FFE or CRST.

 

You've shown 2 of the companies. I was also turned down by CR England, which, from what I've read, is probably a good thing. Other companies I've looked at state up front they won't hire someone with a felony, period. I'm in the Tampa Bay area. Part of the problem is the nature of my felony. 11 years ago I met and briefly dated a girl who I later found was under 18. I didn't go to prison or anything, was just given probation, but it technically makes me a sex offender, which you can imagine makes people rather skittish.

So the situation is basically this: I have to find a company which will be willing to hire someone with zero trucking experience, who is listed as a sex offender, and lives in the Tampa Bay area. I can't afford to pay for driving school, even if the situation was one where the company I hired on with reimbursed the school afterwards. Just don't have money for that initial outlay of cash. Also, because I foolishly set things into motion before doing more research, I have about 2 weeks to find a company, as I won't have anywhere to live. On the plus side, I have an extensive work history, and a clean driving record (ok one speeding ticket a few years ago).

My thinking has been that, worst case, I work for one of these companies for the year required to cover the schooling, and then if not satisfied go elsewhere. As I understand it, record or not, my opportunities greatly increase when I have a year of OTR experience under my belt.

 

first, i would "think" that a good lawyer could write up a letter regarding this situation as a way to "clear the air" about you.

if this is still not the case, then you have to remember that a felony conviction goes on for many years, now as a "sex offender" maybe that time frame is "extended" for many additional years as well, but this i personally wouldn't know. if that is the situation though, it'll be down right tough for you to ever get ANY decent job ANY PLACE at ANT TIME.............especially over the road, or trucking in general.

it might be a benefit for you to try and get some sort of schooling (how, i don't know) and then get a job as a "vocational" driver, maybe doing local driving of say a class B job, making an hourly wage. this might be to your benefit as maybe you have to report to a probation officer(?) frequently??

they might not be too "keen" to the idea that you can go cross country with your conviction..............

i'm outta ideas at the moment, but maybe someone else can come in and say something more.

 

I have checked out Roadmaster. They won't school me because none of the companies they recommend their students to will accept a felon. I think that was them. I spoke to a number of schools. Maybe it was that you had to have a felon over 10 years old (which I do) and also have been off probation for at least 5 years (which I haven't. Just got off probation recently)

That should answer pro1driver's question about probation officers as well. I don't have to report to anyone and they have no say in what type of profession I choose. I'll check out the other links you've provided however. Thanks.

 

You really don't have to go to a company to get financing. I take it you went to Schnieder etc. because of the lack of funds. If you were to go down to your states unemployment office, ask about the WIA program. I think it means Workforce something Admin. It's a program that could finance your training, and I think there may be others. Are you a veteran?
When I went to CDL school, I was fortunate enough to pay for it on my own. That way I wasn't locked in to whoever sponsored the schools. Since, I've been prehired by CFI, and go to Joplin the day after labor day. As for CFI and felonies, I just don't know. Give them a call and find out. I would suggest you do that with any company you may consider. Like others have said, there are options. Ya just gotta be a little more proactive in finding them.
Good luck, at any rate.:smt023

 

I would just like to say thanks for all the advice. I have read all that has been posted here and other forums as well and I have talked to every TMC and Werner driver that I have seen here in my small town in Kentucky. I am really leaning my decision to go with TMC at this time. I have listed some of the articles that others has said and put my thought with them. If anyone can think of any thing that I should consider that has not been listed, please post it. As of write now, I am set up to start 12 days of class in SC. next Tuesday

TMC

Encouraging-
Equipment (seen it and like it)

Reputation (not one TMC driver has ever said TMC was a mistake for them)

A retired navy person said, has been very satisfied personally and financially (retired navy people don’t lie to there simper fi brothers)

Get home most weekends and grossing $1000.00, a week is possible (that would be $52,000 my first year driving a truck)

Neutral-
Your truck has to be squared away (I am a very clean and squared away as long as this is not like putting on Alfas and working in them everyday then this would not be to bad)

Will work you to death (as long as it is legal, safe, and the money reflects this would be very good) (Iraq did not kill me and I don’t think a truck company will ever work me that hard)

Discouraging-
The load securement class is like "boot camp" for flatbedders (did boot camp before and did not like it)

You will never have the proper time to rest (have to keep it safe)

Flat bedding is BS work tarping a load in the dead of winter with high crosswinds, bone chilling cold, and iced flatbed decking you will slip off. (I am sure there will be hard times that I will have to suck up)

Werner

Encouraging-
Nearly 10,000 dollars of free money (Waste valuable VA benefits when I could use this later but I do not think I ever will)

Neutral-
Two former Werner drivers said, they were with them for aprox three plus years and would refer new drivers to them, had no complaints with them.

Two Werner drivers have said this, only stayed so I would not have more than one employer for my 1st year...

(If three people say the same thing about anything, it must be true)

Discouraging-
Doubt seriously that you could get home every weekend or gross $1000.00 with Werner. (Possible...not likely)

Other Companies and not driving at all-
There was a lot said to me about this. I have did the home work for this to and as far as another company that is better then these two in Kentucky I have not found it and I really like these two a lot. Driving a truck is something that I have wanted to do all my life and now that I am out of the Marines, I have that freedom to go and try it out.