2 Speeding Tickets and a Drug Possession - Who Will Hire Me?

Mcdonld's are always hiring!!!

 

I always grimace at all the high and mighty goody goodies that take the holier than thou approach at someone who has a checkered past. I dare anyone in this forum to honestly tell me they never broke the law, if you do then you are lying. You just had the good fortune not to get caught.

If I listed the things I have done in my past most of you would be horrified. I'm am one of those fortunate people who was smart enough not to get caught. I have quit those activities. I am totally clean, but it could have easily gone the other way with one bad traffic stop. Does it make me a better person because I wasn't caught? Some people here have sung praises to me in some of my threads. How would that have gone if I had been convicted of something as small as a paraphenelia charge, or something as large as a quarter pound of northern lights?

IMO everyone deserves a second chance (with few exceptions). Sadly most people don't see it that way. A leopard can't change it's spots and a user can't change their habits....but many can. I did. I got my second chance, and it was pure luck I got my second chance rather than being condemned forever for mistakes I made in my past and would never be able to atone for in many eyes.

Everyone has skeletons in their closet, just because yours aren't public doesn't make you better than anyone else. There are people out there that genuinely want to change, I am living proof.

 

Man oh man...the school recruiter should have asked you about this stuff so as to not waste your time. You may have to drive a concrete mixer for a company that will take anyone.

But, it is not the end of the world, I've done it! Anything is better than giving up. Go try some fly by night Mixer company. Get in there and learn all you can and and be willing to do anything you have to. Once you get some experience, you might move to a rock truck or even a tanker. You might give hauling cattle a try too. Most won't take a rookie right out of school but it is kinda an outlaw trade to begin with.

I wish you well and we all do things we aren't proud of. I'm no body's judge.

 

I think the problem is his checkered past is recent history...2nd chances are ALWAYS warranted AFTER you can show a period of time being a good boy, not in the middle of the bad history...

 

You are correct and I agree, in part...BUT this guy, at least at this point, hasn't earned a second chance. That is why I said: "I don' want you behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle for a couple of ticketless years...". Let him earn the second chance like all of us who were sincere and honest (and willing to pay the price) about wanting a second chance did in our pasts. Don't commit the crime unless you are willing to pay the time...this guy wants to commit the violations and crime, but wants an industry that has to have safety as priority one to look the other way...too bad, so sad...your dad.

 

I agree with you, but I don't think anyone here is trying to be high and mighty or goody goody, the guy asked a question and people are giving answers, just because it's the cold hard truth and not what you want to hear doesn't make it wrong..

 

It's not up to us to pass judgment on him or anyone else. Unfortunately the companies will. Some I have researched will not allow a felony charge every. The best case is maybe one 5+ years old. And more than likely it is not the companies but the insurance companies. It won't look good in court if your new driver with recent speeding tickets and a drug charge plowed into someone. The last construction company I worked for even started getting a little picky about their drivers after an incident involving an off duty driver who passed out and hit the shop building. (In his personal car)

 

Not so long ago being able to roll a joint with one hand while driving at least 20 over was a requirement for getting hired.
Times have changed, your best hope may be to hope you can get out of paying that 5k for school.

 

Well, good luck and welcome. This is another unplanned entry into a professional career like Rerun said. I'll offer my standard copy and paste advice. Take it for what it's worth.

On the driving and criminal record, you're on your own. Can you find a job? Probably. Will it be a good job? No and it won't be one that most of us would consider. If you are willing to try harder, work harder and settle for less, I'll bet you can get a start. IMHO, It won't come from online applications though. You will need personal one-on-one interviews where you take responsibility and sell yourself. A phone conversation might prove productive. Your task will be convincing a person, who has the option, to take a chance on you. Your options will be very limited to say the least.

Now here’s my standard copy and paste advice. You need to research and find out what the important questions are. You can make an above average living but you will make sacrifices that other jobs don't require. I want new people entering to find out what's going on and make a plan.

Read the "good companies" and "bad companies" section on this forum and get an idea of what company you want to work for and what kind of trailer you want to pull. Don't just go to school and then try to figure out where to go.

You need to look at your driving record and criminal record. Many don't take this into consideration and find out they can't get a job after school. The school likely won't mention this because they want your money.

I don't know your financial situation. Don't take training from a company if you can afford it or get it with financial aid. You will be their slave for up to year. If you leave they will trash you DAC and credit record.

Just know that training and trucking company recruiters will do nothing but lie to you. They will let you talk about what you want and then tell you what you want to hear. Trucking is about moving freight to make money for the company. Your home time, family, paycheck and everything else comes second.

It is not like any other job. Local is usually backbreaking delivery work 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week. Often you unload dozens of times a day or you are a salesman. In my area most dump truck jobs pay less than a good factory job. Regional is lots of loading and unloading time, fewer miles than OTR and not as hard as local but will wear on you and push your HOS limits. OTR is out 3 - 5 weeks with 3 - 4 days home, less manual labor and more miles.

You'll probably have to pay your dues before you get the gravy job. Weekends off, if you are lucky enough to get something like that starting out, may be home Thursday afternoon and leave Saturday night or home Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon. Loads deliver on Monday early and you leave in time to get them there. Often your home time will be in the middle of the week.

Regardless of your driving choice, after school you will go through company training. This can be six weeks to three months with little or no home time. The first phase is usually $400 a week and the second phase is $500-550 a week. Some pay less. One company pays 12 CPM for training.