Am I unhireable after a DUI/revocation?

Hello every one, I will try and keep this short as possible, I am looking for some advice.

I got a DUI back in 07' that caused a revocation and suspension at the same time to my normal drivers license . After all this time I was finally able to start the process to reinstatement in like 2020. I had to drive on a restricted drivers permit for a year 2021-2022, on Feb 2022 I was granted full reinstatement of my D.L. I need a new career badly and I was told to aim for trucking now that I am out of trouble and it being so long since that DUI. I went to trucking school and got my CDL, but now I can't find anyone to hire me. I mention all this to the recruiters and they say they have to talk with "safety" and that's the last I hear from them, I only get an email back saying "we chose not to hire you or go any further with you" and an emailed copy of my background MVR check showing this DUI/suspension/revocation (this is the only thing on my MVR). I try to reach back out to them asking what was the problem so I know what to work on or fix and they never get back to me.

I've read that almost all these companies wont hire if the suspension was less than a year ago, does anyone here think that is the case? Should I wait till Feb 2023 before I try applying again because that would be a full year, or will it even matter? I see these companies say they will hire with a DUI at 3, 5, 7, even 10 years old, but nothing about how old a suspension or revocation needs to be. I'm worried that if I keep trying now I'm burning bridges for next February because I have to wait their time limit before I can try to reapply again. Last company I tried told me a year before I can reapply. Does anyone know of companies that would hire a recent CDL grad with this issue or how long I should wait or should I give up hope? Thanks for any help.

 

Sounds like you need the remarkable, marvelous, magnificent, awesome sauce that can't be contained in a bottle, the King of Kings, the go to man for job seekers, If there was a Mr. dear Abbey he'd be it, the man with multiple plans, the fella who ALWAYS has his thinking cap on, the one, the only, the superb mr. @Chinatown .

He'll get here eventually and give you a reasonable answer. Others will come and say the same thing I just did but nowhere near as entertaining.

If your hirable he'll likely have a company or three for you to try. Help him out with a city your near, or at the lest your state.

Good luck!

Edit: Oh an thank you for using paragraphs. It's a small thing, but like tacos, it pleases me.

Sirscrapntruckalot -

 

@Jay.B.B. --

Schneider veteran here.

Now I do hazmat tanker duty, hauling fuel. But NOT with Schneider.

First of all--NEVER give up hope!

If your DUI was THAT long ago--and your driving record is clean since--then there's definitely hope.

To answer your other inquiry above--it could be that recruiters/safety depts are "holding off" on you--to see if you will in fact stay "clean" for at least a year.....past February 2022.

To further improve your chances of being hired.....if the above is truly the case--you might use that time between now and then to get as many CDL endorsements as you can (if you don't have them, already)--tanker, hazmat, and also doubles/triples.

Having those endorsements will make you more appealing to potential employers (and I speak from experience here).

Those endorsements are door-openers--and money-makers!!!

To make worthwhile carrier suggestions, we'll need to know the city/state that is closest to you.


Do you have any criminal history? If so--what would that include?

Also: In what type(s) of freight are you most interested?

Be patient--Chinatown (and possibly others, as well) will chime in later here, with suggestions.

--Lual

 

Here is what I will do.
Pull your MVR see what is on your driving record. Most companies are now going 5 years back on MVR( use to be 3 yrs).
They also use HireRight to do background checks(order one for yourself). The reason why I'm saying this is you can see what they are seeing. On certain trucking applications they ask those questions "have you ever". I had certain companies go back 30 years into my background. We are in that age of opening up everything in the closet.
There are companies who will give you an opportunity just maybe not the major ones right now you're in the prove yourself range. I would try some local outfits even Class B/ yard jockey just to get your driving experience started. All the best to you along your journey.

 

I would like to start off with dry van and I already got tanker, doubles and triples endorsements. Unfortunately no hazmat and my criminal charges were more than 15 to 20 years ago and are not showing up in any of these background checks that i know of. I live between Chicago and Rockford IL. Thanks again for any help.

 

@Jay.B.B. --

Dry van, you say? GOOD choice!!!

With dry van--you can focus much more on the process of actually learning to drive a big rig--instead of babysitting your freight, etc.

Also--with dry van, there's more "drop and hook" opportunities--this helps keep you moving, instead of sitting and waiting.

If you are sitting and waiting--you are wasting time.

And time is a resource that you cannot recoup, later.

Also--if you can--go back and get that hazmat endorsement.

Hazmat is needed for a lot of relatively harmless things that you wouldn't first think would otherwise require it: hairspray, paint, charcoal--and more.

If you don't have a hazmat endorsement--those loads will have to go to other drivers (and so will the money! ).

$$$$$$$$$$$$$.....

--Lual

 

@Jay.B.B. One good thing about trucking is in almost every situation time will fix something if you allow it. EVEN if you get a lifetime suspension of your CDL because of 383.51 after 10 years you can apply for reinstatement. 383.51(a)(6).

I am going to attempt to make a point here, so PLEASE read my comment VERY carefully. I am 100% aware that 383.51 DOES NOT apply to non CDL holders. For the purposes of this comment, I am assuming this rule applies to everybody. @brian991219 correct me if I am wrong, please.

When a person has a history of committing several table 1 or 2 offenses they are going to be unhirable in most situations for a time. Then if they can go for 3 to 4 years clean they can start to rehab their DMV to the point of getting their driving privileges back. Over time a driver can even get their CDL back EVEN if they got a lifetime suspension of that CDL. I know of several drivers who have vehicular homicide convictions in their past who are today driving trucks. The operative word here is TIME. Now for the OTHER issue. That is insurability. A fleet owner like @Ridgeline most likely will never be able to hire such a driver because of his insurance underwriter. At least for a long while so that driver can prove they are again worthy of being insured. This is somewhat of a long road and honestly, during this time a person may be hauling a lot of rubberized dog crap out of Omaha. Some larger self-insured carriers can be a bit more flexible.

What I tell people in these situations is to get the lead out of their foot, regardless of the type of vehicle being driven. If you have DUIs give some serious thought to the events leading up to that conviction and make sure it does NOT happen again. If it means you need to get help GET HELP! @Chinatown can come along and give you suggestions and leads, but until you stop any and all destructive behavior he is wasting his time.

That "get out of jail free card" after 10 years can only be used once. Keep that in mind as well. Oh, and I will end my comment with some advice to make sure if you ever do get back to driving get into a legal plan of some type. There are bad cops out there that do hate truckers.

 

It's not the DUI that causing the problem, as you stated, it's the less than 12 months with your new license.
Chicago is loaded with jobs that aren't particular about anything. You'll have better luck after FEB 2023.
Keep applying now though and any rejections, just try the same companies again in FEB 2023.
~
Don't smoke any weed because there's no mercy for those testing positive.
~
The day you have your drivers license for 12 mos. start a massive application process.
Do the online apps. off the trucking company websites before calling.

 

Dee King Trucking | We strive for Excellence
~
Hires Chicago area drivers.

 

Hang in there man, Feb 2023 ain't that far away. I'd use this time to come up with a new list of companies to apply to, then I'd apply to all of em. If one gives you a hit, go for it.