What can I do?

Most applications ask about felonies. A felony can prohibit you from working in this industry for at least 5-10 years. Misdemeanors are usually not looked upon with as much scrutiny as a felony. Since each company makes their own rules, you will need to contact them directly and ask. I would not pay for school until you check with a few carriers first.

 

Here is a YouTube video demonstrating what happens when a truck driver has "anger management issues". [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoGdTz93dMU[/ame]

(I gotta admit though, going on a rampage in traffic is something I've always fantasized about, though I'd never ACTUALLY do anything like that. Sometimes all the orange barrels and idiot 4 wheelers (especially MINIVANS) just get a little stressful at times.)

 

Thanks everyone for the information, to those that were helpful anyway. I'll soak up the information and put it to my research before I dedicate myself to something.

I've been completely clean up to that point, college, the "good kid", had the world by the balls.

I was offered jobs out of the last 3/6 pencil pusher interviews I had, even after stating out right and in honesty my offense. Come the "official" investigation my background would come up, as I had stated in the application and explained in the interview. Deemed ineligible. Maybe a potential lawsuit - maybe not - who knows.

Trucking had always been one of the options I had considered long ago, just revisiting. Where I live the majority of jobs are factory and transportation related. Just more opportunities, more options that would allow me to put food on the table.

Well, for whats left of my marriage, trucking wouldn't be a bad idea, but that's a whole new can of worms. If it wasn't for my wife and I being outright broke trying to survive, we'd be divorced. It's really more of a financial survival situation. Roommates with children.

Anger issues - never had them. Not even road rage. Stress is what got me, from all sides.

I was pushed through the legal process real fast. Basically, I was told by everyone (police, social worker, prosecutor, wife, etc). "It's obvious that this was an unfortunate isolated incident with many extenuating circumstances. We do not believe that is an excuse for what happened. So here you go!" Hence, I was slapped with the misdemeanor and no real punishment, besides attending the named classes, half of which I had completed even before the trial. Then they sent me about my way.

Sure, no problem, I'd expunge it after 5 or so years, I thought. No, sorry, state law says NO.

Emotions were running high, everything was crazy. Last year at this time I was livin' it up. Good times for all. You never think it could happen to you, but it certainly can.

I'm a bright guy and I've always found my way out of pickles before, but this is one #### big pickle. I'll research until my eyes bleed. If it means giving up on IT, that I've been active in for 8 years, then so be it. I've been weighing on the option of a career change for the last three months as the white collar world seems too #### afraid to give a chance. Despite my good, consistent work history, stellar interviews, and quality references - it doesn't mean #### when they see I'm a criminal.

Anyway. Enough on that business. Stay safe and God bless.

God forgives - society doesn't.

 

Good luck whasup-sorry my information was not right! I see that the majority said it was not reportable. I guess we can all learn something!!

I hope FWIW that you find something......

We are all pushed to our limits at some point in our life. I know I am living that life now. I really hope it works out for you.

 

Welcome to TTR. Just be sure you are chosing trucking for the right reasons. I can almost assure you it will get ugly if it is a desperate choice. I don't think your offense is a deal-breaker.

Can you find a job? Probably. Will it be a good job? Maybe. If you are willing to try harder, work harder and settle for less, I'll bet you can get a start. IMHO, It may not come from online applications though. You will do better with a 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 may be limited.

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.