Felony Truck Drivers

Information for Felony Truck Drivers rules to follow on getting a job as a felony driver for companies hiring felony drivers.

This section of Felony Drivers is subject to change at any time.

There was a time when anyone could drive a truck with little to no education or criminal background. Those days have changed. Especially if you are a felony truck driver.

Even with a felony you can apply with any company, and there is a chance you can get a trucking job. But there are a few things you need to know first. Some of these companies are willing to review applicants with felonies but not all.

It is absolutely necessary that you are honest on your application, especially if you have a felony. If you are applying through a driver application service and they know that you have a felony, they can channel your application to the companies who are willing to review them at this time.

What are some of the things you are doing to help find a job Click Here to share your experiences Please feel free to leave any comments you have.

The Federal Motor Carrier Association regulates who a trucking company can or cannot hirer to drive, and the rules during the course of employment. There are only 2 major criminal issues that will prevent, by law, you from becoming a truck driver:

1.Distribution of, possession with intent to distribute, or importation of a controlled substance. (illegal drug)

2.The use of criminal force such as with a gun or knife.

If you have either of these then and want to be a felony truck drivers please don't waste your money on trucking school - it will be impossible to place you with an employer. Now another issue is: felonies, can you drive truck with a felony? Yes. Can you get a driving job out of truck school with a felony? Maybe. Can you get a job in trucking as a truck driver with 2 or more felonies? No. There is the one major reason why companies will not hire felon truck drivers: Insurance. In order to haul freight OTR trucking companies have to be highly insured - there's the freight, the truck, the driver, property around the truck...you name it. One of the key points to the insurance ask is; "who do you have driving the truck?"

A company has to cover ever aspect of the business. Any action taken by the company, with full knowledge of the applicant, put a huge liability on that company.

So if you still want to drive and you don't 1.) have a drug conviction that involves Distribution of, possession with intent to distribute, or importation of a controlled substance or 2.) conviction involving a firearm or force - but maybe you have something else on your record like bankruptcies, DUI's or felonies or some other type. You maybe able to work around and to understand the rule that companies have to go by when hiring felony truck drivers:

1.Honesty is the best policy: you will hear it in trucking especially at the hiring stage. Most companies have an interview, it's during this time that past work history, MVR, references, DAC and credit history are pulled to evaulate the applicant. During this time a review of your application is made, to see if you forgot to tell them about any accidents or employment gaps that the MVR and DAC will give up. The interviewer will talk with you in length about your goals, your past and why you want the job.

2.Dress for Success: Once you get the job you can dress however you want in the cab; but you have to get in first. Many of the top trucking companies hire their recruiting staff from outside the field of trucking - but with experience recruiting. This individuals expect a level of professionalism and pride in one's self and work. At interview time - and with other choices sitting right outside the door - isn't it worth it to take an extra hour to straighten the collar pull up your pants and wear nice clothes if you want that felony truck drivers job.

3.Be reasonable: We have all been told once they finished trucking school that they would make over $60,000 as a professional truck driver. Unless you have a relative in upper management you will NOT make that much starting out the gate. Trucking is about dues, you have to put your's in to get dedicated routes and top cents per mile as a professional Truck Driver. Now you can make $35,000 + and establish yourself with a company and come out the next year strong, but it will take time to make the really big money. Especially if you are a new felony truck drivers.

Some companies will hire ex felons if the charges are at least 5 to 7 yrs old! But they wont touch anyone with a drug, sexual, or violent crime, misdemeanor or felony. Werner 10 yrs, Swift 10 yrs, USA Trucking will not hire, Pam will not hire, US-Express says they will on their site but they wont, Stevens Trans wont hire, TMC wont hire, Roelh wont hire, Schneider wont hire. I know Carolina cargo will hire you as long as the felony is 3 yrs.

You absolutely cannot get into Canada with a felony. So when you are searching for companies, and you know up front they run Canada, scratch them off your list.

Talk to Company's Not Schools

Another thing don't listen to the trucking schools they just want your money and they are not the ones who hire you. They may tell you "oh yeah you can get hired with a recent felony" take your money and train you and then no company hires felony truck drivers. You need to start finding out now which companies would consider hiring you first.

I don't want to get your spirits down but make sure you have a back-up plan because it will be hard to find a trucking job with that recent felony.

If a company requires your job to have a hazmat licenses to become a felony truck drivers the following will disqualify you. Temporary Disqualifying Criminal Offenses

You will be disqualified from holding a HazMat endorsement if you were convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity within the previous seven years, or were released from prison in the last five years for any of the following crimes:

•Unlawful possession, use, sale, manufacture, purchase, distribution, receipt, transfer, shipping, transporting, delivery, import, export of, or dealing in a firearm or other weapon.

•Extortion.

•Dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation, including identity fraud.

•Bribery.

•Smuggling.

•Immigration violations.

•Distribution of, intent to distribute, or importation of a controlled substance.

•Arson.

•Kidnapping or hostage taking.

•Rape or aggravated sexual abuse.

•Assault with intent to murder.

•Robbery.

•Fraudulent entry into a seaport as described in 18 U.S.C. 1036, or a comparable state law.

•Violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) under 18 U.S.C. 1961, et seq., or a comparable state law, other

than the violations listed in paragraph (j) of Part B: Permanently Disqualifying Criminal Offenses.

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•Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of these crimes.NOTE: The disqualification period is seven years from the last conviction date for any of the above violations or five years from the prison release date.

Permanent Disqualifying Criminal Offenses

You will be permanently disqualified from holding a HazMat endorsement for you felony truck drivers job if you were convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity for any of the following crimes:

•Espionage.

•Sedition.

•Treason.

•A crime listed in 18 U.S.C. Chapter 113B—terrorism, or a comparable state law.

•A crime involving a transportation security incident.

•Improper transportation of a hazardous material (49 U.S.C. 5124) or a comparable state law.

•Murder.

•Making any threats, or maliciously conveying false information knowing the same to be false, concerning the deliverance, placement, or detonation of an explosive or other lethal device in or against a place of public use, a state or government facility, a public transportation system, or an infrastructure facility.

•Violations of the RICO Act under U.S.C. 1961, et seq., or a comparable state law, where one of the predicated acts found by a jury or admitted by the defendant, consists of one of the offenses listed in Part B of this section.

•Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of these crimes.

I hear some smaller local operations and mom & pop companies may take a shot on hiring felony truck drivers. Before you pay thousands for school and then end up not being able to find a job I would start calling companies now and see what their policy is on previous convictions and find out if they would honestly hire you.

List of Companies hiring felonys click Here

Get a free copy of your DAC Report just to see what's in it. You can do that by Clicking Here

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