10 Year Old Felony??

I have a 10 year old felony that was set as deferred adjudication. I completed the probation and the case was dropped...or so I had hoped. It seems that companies consider these types of cases convictions if there was ever probation involved. Luckily...I see that many companies will take felons as long as the conviction is 5, 7 or 10 years old. My crime was for having an adderall in my pocket. Do you think I will be unhirable because it is a form of amphetamine? I am still in Cdl school and I don't want to ruin my chances if I should take the extra few months (and $$) to get a non-disclosure.

Richard, I am not an expert, but there should be a company out there for you. Here on Trucking Truth there are great company reviews Trucking Company Reviews And they generally say whether or not a company will hire someone with a felony. Also because it's an older issue, you shouldn't have too much harder a time than someone without. I have some issues from my past and I have received multiple offers from trucking companies. Just work hard in school and keep it clean going forward!!

Hey Richard, welcome aboard!

I think you need some clarification on a few things just so you know what you're up against. First off, if you completed your probation, that does not mean the case was "dropped."

Secondly, when these companies say they want the felony to be ten years old, that means ten years from the date you completed your probationary term.

Third, you can spend the money to have it expunged from your record, but it won't help you. I have been involved in four different trucking company orientations, at each of them someone git sent home for not reporting their felony charge that had been expunged. You see these trucking companies are willing to pay for a background search that is far more extensive than your average employer will.

You're better off being up front with all recruiters and hope for the best.

Hey Richard, I forgot to add something. We have so much information here on the web site, often times I feel like a lot of people just don't realize how to navigate around in here. We have a place where you can locate Companies that hire folks with felony charges. Check that out, it may prove helpful to you.

Good call. (On being up front). I applied to Werner today to test the waters. I disclosed everything and just put out the comment because of the adrenaline involved in trying to get hired and being potentially turned down. I have a couple of tickets as well so it's a lot of negatives to disclose within the first conversation with somebody you want to work for. I completed the probation 9 years ago FYI so it's not like I'm trying to cover something up. Non disclosures are a legit legal process, as legit as defensive driving for class c drivers. Furthermore, Texas defines deferred adjudication as "a form of probation where the defendant's conviction is deferred until the completion of the probation period. If the defendant successfully completes the probation, the case will be dismissed." Again, I thank you for your advice.

Thank yo Old School...your response calmed me a little...I am encouraged by the list, I have looked at it a lot. Guess I'm just nervous to get turned down by 'best bets.' But I shouldn't be. I'm sure I'll find my place somewhere!

Oh...and thanks Joe.

Hey Richard, I have made several successful attempts at helping folks with felony backgrounds get trucking jobs, even helped some folks who were on felony probation get hired while serving their probation. So, I'm real familiar with these problems.

Thank yo Old School...your response calmed me a little...I am encouraged by the list, I have looked at it a lot. Guess I'm just nervous to get turned down by 'best bets.' But I shouldn't be. I'm sure I'll find my place somewhere!

You are new around here, and because of that you are unaware of my personal struggles at getting started in this career. I had a really tough time at the start - I got rejected and sent home from three different orientation classes - it was not a good way to get started! I began to wonder if anyone would give me a job. I kept at it and landed a job at Western Express - they gave me my start, and I busted my tail over there. Here's the deal: There is so much trash talking on the internet about trucking companies, that it is daunting to even weed your way through the fallacies and the follies. I am going to say that about 98% of what you read is pure nonsense. Don't even let it bother you that you might not get started at what you have determined to be a top notch operation. I was actually very nervous about getting started at Western Express because there was nothing but terrible reviews of that company, it didn't matter where I looked - everyone indicated that they were cruel nasty slave drivers whose pay was paltry and whose policies never allowed their employees to go home. HaHa! what a joke I discovered - all those nasty reviews, and they were never ending, came from people who couldn't have measured up to what it takes to be a decent truck driver if they had to. The problem with all these negative reviews of trucking companies is that the new folks trying to land a job at this who are reading these things have no insight into this career, and that is the same reason all those reviews are written - the people writing them do not have what it takes to succeed at this. They blame all their failures on the company - and it is all bogus information that keeps on multiplying out here to a nauseating infinitude.

I did real well at Western Express, they helped me build a great foundation of success and I figured out just how one succeeds at this stuff. It's not rocket science, but it does take tenacity and a willingness to do what ever it takes to make things happen out here.

What I'm trying to convey to you is don't worry so much about where you get started, but focus on how you get started. You, and you alone will be the determining factor in how you do at this career. I have proven this truth day in and day out while out here on the road. Every dispatcher I have ever worked with has made comments to me about wishing they could clone me - so I know that I am on the right track when I give out information like this. Any trucking company out there would love to have you if you can prove yourself as a competent self motivated individual who is willing to be creative in their problem solving approach to this job. I think outside the box all the time - I make sure that things go my way out here, and if you can develop those traits you will be a great truck driver. Don't dare let yourself get caught in the trap of the common driver out here who is a never ending running list of complaints and problems. Stay focused on what you can do to improve your performance and keep yourself motivated for success.

I'm probably talking about stuff you don't even want to hear right now, I realize you are just now looking into employment, but I wanted you to realize that you can do really well just about anywhere you can get started at. Don't let all the naysayers discourage you - their is a lot of opportunity out here.

That's really encouraging, and also incredibly true. Im well aware of the haters and let myself get caught up in the negativity from time to time. But I know better, it's good to hear from someone real that the energy you put into something is manifested in your return. theres a long list of companies on this site willing to hear me out and I won't be prejudice based on forum posts or reviews. I'll work my ass off, prove myself and get what I give. Everyone else can just *****!