Can I do this? Record and medical condition.

Would really depend on the type of medications you’re on. Assuming it’s not a banned substance the final say comes down to the Carriers safety department.

What I would do is go get a DOT physical done and see how it goes. It’s not overly expensive and you’ll need one anyway to get into a CDL program. See if the DOT doctor is willing to accept liability and issue you a certificate.

Your charges probably aren’t that big a deal.

 

@brian991219 probably can help.

 

You are not going to get hired from any board. Nothing but BS or information comes from these boards. We all will dispute which is which, but there is good information.

Your issues might be of some concern if you were an experienced driver. But, as fresh meat in the seat, the mega trucking companies that hire newbies tend to dig up dirt, and over scrutinize health issues. They absolutely will google your name, and check social media in addition to check criminal background and drivers history. They will send you to their own medical examiner. The number of drivers that have to drop orientation after that would astound anyone.

Not, trying to discourage you but just going on what information you have given.

 

1 year med card is not much of a problem. Since trucking for long periods often leads to high blood pressure and toward diabetes, it's somewhat common for a driver to have a 1 year medical card. Some of the very best jobs, because they have their pick of the best of the best candidates may choose to only hire 2 year card holders, but that's not very common.

There is not a CDL school in the nation that will turn down almost any student/customer. You don't have to know someone to get admission to CDL school. They are somewhat like a drug dealers, prostitutes, real estate agents, politicians they welcome almost everyone that wants to give them money. Getting the nod form a CDL school recruiter is as precious and meaningful as being next in line at a fast food cash register. They are not going to spend a lot of time examining your past before they allow you to give them money. The most honest schools should and may ask you some personal questions about your health, work history, driving record, criminal record and then suggest "you will likely have a hard time getting a job quickly, but we will take your money if you want to start training.

Each company asks specific questions about criminal record and driving records. You need to answer honestly the specific question that is asked and not spill your guts and confess to everything since the Lindbergh kidnapping. If they ask "have you ever been arrested?" Answer that specific question, honestly If they ask have you been convicted? Answer that question honestly. The trucking company, through their insurance carrier and paid services, will likely have access to databases you have no idea about. EVERY trucking company I know of will fire a driver for lying on the application, even if the lie was about something the company would still hire him, had they known the truth. If the question asked is about last 5, 10 years then only answer that specific question concerning the time period given. You need a lawyer, not other truck drivers, to tell you in your specific case with events sealed and expunged if you should answer "have you ever..." questions with a yes or no. Stories from other truck drivers about their friend in 1983 who did X, y, and Z and never got in trouble is not giving you a legally defensible answer about you. Ignore that kind of advice, they pay no penalty for being wrong and won't pay your bills after you are fired because you followed their advice.

Frankly having done this job for 28 years across 48 states and 3 million miles it was the 1st or 2nd most stressful activity I ever did and which took more than a few months to complete. I cannot imagine staying in this industry with t's daily acute stress and having a diagnosed mood disorder. BTW being desperate for a job doesn't mean trucking is a job you should do. Electricians, HVAC, plumbers, welders and other trades may be better fit. THERE IS NO TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE, NEVER HAS BEEN ONE AND NEVER WILL BE ONE. The pay and working conditions mean that most people that got a CDL stopped using it to make a living. Anyone telling you there is a truck driver shortage just wants to make money off of your desperation, like CDL schools, or trucking companies that always need a steady supply of desperate people with no better options.

I used trucking to turn my life around, I was a week or two from being homeless when I got into trucking. I had a father and a brother that followed the same path to the same CDL school and the same employer 1 and 2 years before I did what they did. So I walked into essentially an already successful process that delivered the results to my father and brother and I knew exactly what truck driving was going to be for me. It was. Most newbies do no research finding the employer, believe every lie they are told, and choose poorly before they get frustrated and permanently leave the industry within a few month of starting the job. You should, especially because you have issues in your background, find the employer that will hire you the day after CDL school before you even walk into CDL school. DO NOT start CDL school and see what happens. You will not have time to adequately learn about employers int he very little down time after you begin CDL school. You wouldn't recommend someone go skydiving by first jumping out of an aircraft and then spend the time between takeoff and jumping out stitching together a parachute from what materials you might find in your car or the airplane. You would likely say get the parachute first (rent or buy) and strap it on before the pilot starts the engine. The CDL school is in a hurry for you to pay, sign over your grant, or assign your govt benefits to them, they don't care if you get a job or not as long as they get the money attached to you. You need to protect yourself from everyone's self-interest. Nobody has the job of protecting you but you. We can help you navigate this plan but most newbies wait until the day before the world ends to do anything and then make lots of bad decisions because they are desperate. Work at McDs until you can do this in a less desperate way and you can use trucking to turn your life around also.

 

Get your cdl then probably get a 1099 OTR trucking job out of Chicago.

 

It won't stop you. However, based on the charges, you seem to have something of an anger problem. If it's medically managed and you're sure it's under control, no big deal. That said, you should know before you get into this that you need to be able to put up with a certain amount of contempt, if not outright disrespect and abuse. It's one of the primary reasons people leave this industry.

 

The news articles won't mean much by themselves, but just because your record was sealed ir expunged doesn't mean it won't show up in a background screen. The arrest records probably are not gone, and deoending on exactly what the charges were may cause alarm with some carriers.

As for the medicines, again depending on exactly what they are will determine any problems with you DOT physical and a company's willingness to hire you.

With the limited info available you probably are qualified. See if you can get a DOT physical and your CDL permit, and if so, then reach out to one of the megas and get into their training program that way you are positive you have a job upon graduation. They may suck to work for, but it will gove you the assurance of being employable you are looking for.

Put in a solid year then you can go anywhete you want.

 

Was your case charged as a misdemeanor or a felony?

I'm guessing a misdemeanor judging by how fast you got it sealed/ expunged.

Nonetheless just mark NO for any criminal related questions on your employment applications.

 

terroristic threatening and harassment charge? How was that sealed? Still can see it if there is a deep background check done, these records still exist somewhere.