'Violent' Criminal History And Getting Hired As A Truck Driver?

Stickers has a basic request for his future trainers hygiene:

As long as they are clean and don't smell.

With most of the larger carriers, a manager (at Swift called the Driver Development Manager) is assigned to the trainee for the sole purpose of providing support and guidance during road training. If a situation becomes untenable, this individual is there to help you "work it out". Granted its advisable to establish professional communication, work through problems and differences with your trainer without intervention, however some situations just don't click and a change is required. To your point a "stinky trainer" is not the norm, but fortunately the exception.

Stickers has a basic request for his future trainers hygiene:

Comments like that are starting to make me think you are trying to chase me away.

Look, I was in the Army for 4 years to include an deployment in Iraq. When I was there I essentially lived inside of the cab of an armored HEMMTT wrecker with my truck commander, it was a space no bigger than the inside of full size pickup truck cab + radios and other equipment necessary for our mission. Also during my career I cannot recall a time I was no farther 5 feet from another person either working, eating, showering, or sleeping. Through all of that the only thing that could ever possibly irritate you during those times of close quarters with another human is if they emitted so kind of bodily smell. Lets not kid ourselves, even the most uninformed person could observe a Pilot parking lot and probably see 2-3 individuals who have poor or just a serious lack of hygiene skills. My only hope is to not be stuck with one of said individuals. I understand that I can call my company and tell them that I would like another trainer yes but I DEFINITELY DO NOT want to start my career with a reputation of complaining. If my future trainer is a complete slob and posses a risk to my health then I will make the call, you bet. More importantly if they are ineffective at training someone who is going to be piloting a 80,000 lbs missile down the highway then absolutely I will call and request someone else. Outside of those two parameters I can take the punches. I have had to deal with a lot of undesirable people in my life, some of them signed my paychecks and some of them were way above my pay grade, I refuse to be labeled as a complainer.

So with all that being said is really to difficult to imagine someone not wanting to be in the close confines of truck for 6 weeks with someone who smells due to poor hygiene? Or is it seen in poor taste to have that kind of standard in the trucking industry?

Stickers states his case:

My only hope is to not be stuck with one of {these stinky} individuals.

Well said. G-Town had a lot of explanation, but he agrees with you:

To your point a "stinky trainer" is not the norm, but fortunately the exception.

(PS: I like your Ren & Stumpy avatar!)

Not trying to chase you away, nothing could farther from the truth. Your request, requirement is not only reasonable but should be a mandatory expectation.

A trainee should not have to tolerate bad hygiene from their trainer and visa-versa.

Stickers I have a little more time to thoroughly respond to your post.

G-Town wrote:

Stickers has a basic request for his future trainers hygiene:

Stickers responded:

Comments like that are starting to make me think you are trying to chase me away.

Not sure why you are starting to think that, but to reiterate, totally false. I am trying to give you information that is relevant to addressing your concern. What I wrote in response to your point about "stinky trainers" was the truth, offering a solution for handling it, and if you read my words it's obvious (at least to me and Errol) that not only do I understand but I agree with you. At no time did I imply that your concern was invalid, unfounded, or in "poor taste".

No one in any of the companies that most of this forum membership work for or have worked for, would expect a trainee be subjected to a foul and dirty trainer. In fact all of the companies I know of want all of their drivers to project a professional appearance and demeanor that includes basic hygiene. Bottom line if your trainer smells like the cat house at the zoo, avoid tossing your cookies and request a replacement.

Your concern although valid, IMO should not be a deterrent from pursuing trucking as a career.

Stickers I have a little more time to thoroughly respond to your post.

G-Town wrote:

Stickers has a basic request for his future trainers hygiene:

Stickers responded:

Comments like that are starting to make me think you are trying to chase me away.

Not sure why you are starting to think that, but to reiterate, totally false. I am trying to give you information that is relevant to addressing your concern. What I wrote in response to your point about "stinky trainers" was the truth, offering a solution for handling it, and if you read my words it's obvious (at least to me and Errol) that not only do I understand but I agree with you. At no time did I imply that your concern was invalid, unfounded, or in "poor taste".

No one in any of the companies that most of this forum membership work for or have worked for, would expect a trainee be subjected to a foul and dirty trainer. In fact all of the companies I know of want all of their drivers to project a professional appearance and demeanor that includes basic hygiene. Bottom line if your trainer smells like the cat house at the zoo, avoid tossing your cookies and request a replacement.

Your concern although valid, IMO should not be a deterrent from pursuing trucking as a career.

It won't be a deterrent and thank for clearing that up, sorry for the assumption.

I and I think we all have heard/ read the horror stories about bad trainers. It honestly is the biggest concern I have at the moment all though I do not focus highly on it as it is only small chapter in my future career. I like to think most people who have a genuine problem with their trainer is something it is more of personal indifference that stems from having to live in someone else's space for the first in their (trainee) life.

I am not a woman and I am a smoker so I anticipate being able to get a in a training truck at the first opportunity made available I hope.

Find anything yet? BT Express Global Services.....PI&I Motor Express.....TransAm.....Carolina Cargo.....RoadTex Transportation....all these will probably hire you.

Stickers I have a little more time to thoroughly respond to your post.

G-Town wrote:

Stickers has a basic request for his future trainers hygiene:

Stickers responded:

Comments like that are starting to make me think you are trying to chase me away.

Not sure why you are starting to think that, but to reiterate, totally false. I am trying to give you information that is relevant to addressing your concern. What I wrote in response to your point about "stinky trainers" was the truth, offering a solution for handling it, and if you read my words it's obvious (at least to me and Errol) that not only do I understand but I agree with you. At no time did I imply that your concern was invalid, unfounded, or in "poor taste".

No one in any of the companies that most of this forum membership work for or have worked for, would expect a trainee be subjected to a foul and dirty trainer. In fact all of the companies I know of want all of their drivers to project a professional appearance and demeanor that includes basic hygiene. Bottom line if your trainer smells like the cat house at the zoo, avoid tossing your cookies and request a replacement.

Your concern although valid, IMO should not be a deterrent from pursuing trucking as a career.

It won't be a deterrent and thank for clearing that up, sorry for the assumption.

I and I think we all have heard/ read the horror stories about bad trainers. It honestly is the biggest concern I have at the moment all though I do not focus highly on it as it is only small chapter in my future career. I like to think most people who have a genuine problem with their trainer is something it is more of personal indifference that stems from having to live in someone else's space for the first in their (trainee) life.

I am not a woman and I am a smoker so I anticipate being able to get a in a training truck at the first opportunity made available I hope.

Hey Seadragon and everyone else!

So it has been 6 months since I last got on the forum here and I did Indeed find employment! Posting the results of my job search considering my criminal history has been something I have been meaning to do here for quite some time.

Anyways, I graduated truck driving school July of this year. After speaking to several of the large companies and getting turned down I went back to what I have always known and that was to post my resume on Craigslist. My CL ad was found and I was picked up by an O/O in August who owns about 4 trucks and runs them through various brokerage services. I got one day of "training" and was turned loose with my assigned tractor. Since August I have run all over my home state of Iowa, The Midwest, Texas, and Georgia. I have been pulling a 53' refer hauling groceries and frozen pork mostly as well as a grain hopper this last fall. I have plenty of pictures that I will probably post later.

Since I have been driving I have actually received two other job offers by other O/Os / small fleet owners. And I did actually speak to a recruiter at Trans Am but I was hired before I could make it all the way through the application process with them.

Now, for anyone else reading this who is looking for a truck driving job I have to give my own personal disclaimer, I was not totally thrown to the wolves as soon as a I started. Upon my interview with the O/O and stated in my resume I DO have experience driving tractor-trailers in city traffic and other environments via the Military which was a concern for the owner. And on a few of my first runs I was in constant contact over the phone with the owner asking specifics about handling bills, truck maintenance, etc. So I may have not gone out with a trainer for several weeks but my limited prior experience and my resources were still there. And yes, I was given a driving test. Luckily, his trucks were the same model of Freightliner w/10 spd that I trained on in school with the exception of a long hood Pete 379 with a super 10 that I used a for couple days while my tractor was getting repaired.

To sum up what I have learned as far as finding a job in this industry with a criminal record is to have a solid resume and put out there where potential employers can find it. Have full disclosure on your criminal history when you are contacted as to not waste your time or anyone else's. And being able to provide a solid, professional interview over the phone and in person is a pro as well.

There is many other forums and job boards around the internet that have want ads by Owner Operators who are looking for drivers for their trucks. Since they are not a huge conglomerate with corporate policies in place they tend to be more lenient with criminal history and from what I found it is usually what they are personally comfortable with and the requirements of their insurance carrier that will be the main factors in hiring you. This is of course if they are not currently leasing their trucks through one of the aforementioned companies. Better to find an O/O who has their own authority and gets freight through a brokerage service, has their own trailers, and or brokers their own freight.

Oddly enough as I write this I am currently unemployed however I am not to worried about it. I decided that the particular gentleman I was driving for was not going to work out for me. Since I started with him I have had several mechanical/ maintenance issues with his equipment ranging from being stranded on the side of the road to minor safety violations. Because of this I made the decision early this week that I am going to move on. I was asked to take a load out Monday with an exhaust leak, no wipers, and some lights out after I reported the issues and my truck had sat in the yard all weekend to get fixed. I figured throwing in the towel now was better than risking my safety, others safety, the attention from the DOT , and just the general headache of worn equipment. From what I understand this happens at big fleets too and the guy I was driving for gave me a great opportunity and told me I have job there if I ever want to come back. So I do not want to publicly blast him to much, just wish more attention was given to his trucks. I had a pretty good interview this week with a local alcohol distributor and the pay matches what I was making OTR not to mention being home every night. I also still have multiple contacts to get back into trucking OTR if need be. I should be getting more info after the holiday so I will see how everything plays out. I have 6 months of experience now so that seems to be a highlight for some local gigs I have talked with.

- Sorry for the long update, I hope this helps with anyone who is looking for a driving job with a criminal history.

-Stickers.

Stickers,...really good to hear from you, and great update. Glad you figured out to make your way in the industry.

Hope you post the photos, good luck with the next gig, and have a wonderful holiday.