FallenTrucker

Topic 15414 | Page 1

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Jimmy G.'s Comment
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I realy dont know what I'm facing or where to start. So any helpful tips or just help period. I got my CDL in late 90s early 2000. I drove OTR for 7yrs mostly west coast then came off road for family drove local 2yrs.

Then in 2009 with my marriage about to end. So buddie took me out to wild country had a couple girls buying drinks we all end up at a hotel. Cops were called weed and cocaine then we find out the girls yea underage with fake Ids. So yes i got a couple felonies. No trouble and drug free since 2009 i have kids now. But thru all that my CDL expired. I dream of driving again how can i and where can i get my cdls again do i even have a chance of driving again. Please help man out. Thanks..stay safe out there

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

Brett Aquila's Comment
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Most companies that do hire felons will evaluate them on an individual basis so obviously it's going to be tough getting going again. The fastest, easiest, cheapest way to get your license back and get on the road would be with a Company-Sponsored Training Program but I'm not sure if any of them would take you or not. I would try CR England and PAM for sure. Might as well try the rest - no reason not to.

We also have a list of trucking companies that hire drivers with felonies, along with each company's requirements. Have a look through those also.

The best thing you can do is apply to a bunch of companies and see who would be willing to hire you once you get your CDL back. They'll let you know individually if they'll require you to either go through the full schooling again, take a refresher course, or just get your CDL anyway you can. Have a look at the lists I gave you above but also go through Craigslist. There are a lot of mom-n-pop companies that hire from there and they're more likely to be a little more lenient in their standards.

Check out local logging companies, dumpster haulers like Waste Management, and local farms. All three are pretty good opportunities.

Also look specifically at Western Express and Carolina Cargo - both tend to be a little more lenient also.

You're just going to have to take whatever you can get in the beginning to get some recent experience under your belt and get some distance behind you with those convictions. After a time more opportunities will open up for you. Hope this helps.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

Company-sponsored Training:

A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.

The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.

If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.

Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
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