Profile For Aaron R.

BUT i HAVE A POSSESSION CHARGE ON MY RECORD FROM 5YEARS AGO

You can go through the company sponsored training and pay for it up front and still do the training and get your cdl and not be locked into a contract for a year

What if I'm willing to pay for my schooling myself would that make things easier for me trying to get in the trucking industry?

what if i'm willing to pay the school cost myself would that make things a little easier for me trying to get in the industry?

Most companies like to see 5-7 years, post conviction. Weed/Coke/Heroin?

A lot of the reason behind this (aside from Insurance, and the obvious bias in business towards recent drug offenders) is - you can't really apply for a TWIC or HazMat endorsement FELONY WAIVER, until the conviction is more than 7 years old - and a lot of companies require/desire both the HM & TWIC. Also - you can't go into Canada with a drug conviction, or at least a recent one.

I agree 100% with 100% of what Scott said. Start applying - BE HONEST (because they will find out - and lying on an app is considered as bad as what you lied about in the first place).

Depending on the charge and disposition - at best you will get in. At worst - you will have to wait another 2 years to try.

Rick

Isnt it true that most places only count time towards the 5 or 7 years that you mentioned, not from the time you were convicted, but time that you've been out of jail/prison?

TWIC & HM use the date of conviction. Most trucking companies likely use this also. But if you're still on any kind of "paper" (parole or probation), they will not take you. And since a large majority of the "starter companies" want you to have BOTH - not being able to get them, can be problematic.

A lot depends on the "severity" of the charge also. The OP didn't mention the severity of the charge, or if he had priors.

While not IMPOSSIBLE to get into the industry with prior drug charges - it's obvious that NOT having them, makes it way easier.

This is not to say that people can't "learn their lesson", and get their lives straightened out (lord knows I did), but for certain industries (safety sensitive), it can be difficult to catch a break. Likewise with THEFT charges. It's as much a question of "moral character" a

what if I'm willing to pay the cost of school out of pocket would that elimanate some of the problems i'm having?

I live in Atlanta,ga my name is Aaron Ricard and i desperately wanna drive.Can somebody give me some info on crossing my hurdle?