Hello! Need some advice!!

Hi everybody! I just graduated from a cdl school back April. I've run into some problems that the school recruiter didn't warn me about when I enrolled in the school. Because I have a felony conviction dating back from 2002, along with the fact I don't have any recent verifiable miles/ experience, I'm having a really difficult time getting in a truck. The companies that have offered seem to be the worst out there in driver treatment. To top it off, the school I attended has a pretty bad rep. for poor training, which I totally agree with BTW. Fortunately for me I had class A license for several years, and experience from those years. I've been in the auto/ truck repair business for 20 some years though, and truthfully I'm disgusted with the way that industry has turned sour and corrupt. So I've decided to get back into trucking for a living.
Got my class A's when I was 17, and pulled a lowboy, along with straight flats, dumps, etc., in the construction biz. Being young and stupid, I lost my license when I was 23 due to a dui (haven't had a drink in 10+ years, thank you God).
Now I know there's a bunch of people there that's going to say "well you got a felony you (fill in the blanks)". We all know the comments, the negative things folks tend to say. Here's something to think about though. In order for people like myself to be able to be decent contributing members of society again, we need the opportunity to make a living just like everybody else. If not, then the cycle can't be broken. Period. Without the means to support one's self and family, the choices are slim. Either government support, and barring that, many return to a life of crime, resulting in higher recidivism (repeat offenders).
So please do us all a favor. If you don't have have positive advice, please don't post.
So here's my first question. Are there companies out there that are felon friendly, that won't take advantage of new drivers in that position?
Any good advice I would deeply appreciate. God bless!!

 

Thanks Critter & Chinatown! I'm getting the apps. started now. I'll let y'all know what happens.

 

Haven't had the chance to check them out yet. Thanks for the heads up Chinatown!

 

Thanks!! That's all I can hope for, along with many, many others out there in the same boat. I talked with an employment office rep. last Thursday. He told me that when they changed some employment laws concerning background checks, (still don't quite understand all of his explanation) and when the insurance co.'s started requiring background and credit checks, it put a LOT of truckers off the road....even truckers with good driving records and extended employment times. Top it off with The Homeland Security Act, which bars access to any military/ government properties to felons irregardless (according to him) of the date of conviction.....really makes it a challenge to find a willing company.