Some Advice After Getting Sent Home From Orientation For A Felony....

Hello guys. I've posted before and need some help. I recently graduated from swift and got my CDL. A dream of mine. On the day I checked in to the hotel I received a phone call from them saying they pulled me from orientation. I have a 25 yr old felony that I fully disclosed and discussed with my recruiter who stated it was not a problem. For the record it is not a sex offense. Anyway filled out the forms had an interview with safety and was still declined. I was more than upset. My recruiter knew I packed up my home and had planned to be on the road constantly. So now I am homeless and no job. Then she calls me Thursday and told me that since it was her fault I don't owe them for the school. A blessing but strange to me after all I've read, but I had them send me an e-mail stating that while I wait for the certificate. But that doesn't help my situation . I have done many apps but haven't heard anything. I need my road training or I'm screwed. I'm not bashing swift. The folks at the academy were great and a few are trying to help me figure this out. Still does anyone have any advice or a direction I can go in that I haven't thought of. Anything would be helpful. And thank all of you for everything I have read here it has always been helpful.

Since you have your CDL in hand I would shotgun apps out. Apply to every trucking company that accepts recent school grads. Werner, Western Express, Averitt, TMC, U.S. Xpress, Schneider, May, Maverick, McElroy, R.E West, H.O. Wolding, C.R. Enlgand, CRST, Crete, Roehl, J.B. Hunt, Melton, PGT, Prime, Melton, Trans Am, Knight, and Tyson. I am sure I am missing a few.

TMC, Maverick, McElroy, & R.E. West are all flatbed companies. May is reefers. Crete has 3 different divisions. Each has a different name. R.E. West, McElroy, & H.O. Wolding are smaller companies thay have a limited hiring area. McElroy is owned by a very religious family. That may be a good or bad thing, dependent on the felony conviction.

McElroy is owned by a very religious family. That may be a good or bad thing, dependent on the felony conviction.

Jesus says to forgive, right?

McElroy is owned by a very religious family. That may be a good or bad thing, dependent on the felony conviction.

Jesus says to forgive, right?

My point exactly. It wouldn't be very christian to turn away a lost sheep that has returned to the flock. I believe they are 7th day Adventists. I know they shutdown on Saturday for observance of the Sabbath. They also won't start work until afternoon on Sunday, so those that observe the Sabbath on Sunday may go to church.

Wow Retha, that is a real blow! I know it's frustrating, but hopefully you will land on your feet.

I think you first have got to figure out a place where you can stay. Do you have any friends or family who can take you in temporarily? Secondly is that you've got to start applying like crazy. It is not hopeless, there is somebody who will take you on. I see you are in Clinton, MS - there are a lot of companies that hire from your state. I think you should get right on the phone with a recruiter from Western Express, be upfront and honest with them about what happened, and see how the conversation goes. I started my career there, and while they were not on my original radar so much, I had some issues getting hired as well. It turned out to be a great start to my career, and I am not ashamed to tell anyone that I started there. You'd be doing dry van work and right now would be a great time to get started because the busy season is coming right up.

Please, keep us posted and let us know how things are developing.

Western Express is certainly not your only option, but I think they would help you get the ball rolling quickly.

Don't despair, you will be able to get this resolved. I know it is extremely disappointing, but you're going to survive this.

Putting all the religious stuff aside for the moment...

Start putting in apps, and DO DISCLOSE the conviction.

Out of curiosity (and you don't have to say), what was it FOR? Some offenses (even non-sexual in nature), are still avoided for hires by many companies (at least initial hires).

You say 25 year of that you didn't "fully disclose". DID YOU DISCLOSE IT OR NOT?

This is less a matter of being a nosy-body, than to try and understand your situation and be able to guide you and future drivers.

Western Express seems to be the one most recommended on this forum, for "second chance" drivers. Being that you did a school, have a CDL but do not have ANY ROAD EXPERIENCE - you may have to go through another company's school (minus the DMV permit/road test since you're already licensed) and sign a contract for whatever their "school obligation" is.

Feel for you. One of the things that has been preventing my move back into the industry - is that I would have to go 100% homeless for awhile. And if something doesn't work out initially - I would be totally screwed.

Rick

Thanks for the replies so far. Old School I have enjoyed your post and appreciate the advice. I will contact them also. And no I'm pretty much by myself. Years ago when I did get out I realized quick that most ex-cons don't try to do the right thing. So I have pretty much isolated myself just working and coming home. Trucking for me was a major choice to change my life and get out and meet people. I'm a workaholic. Because of my felony I thought I did my research well. I chose swift because of their size thinking if freight slowed some they would still have some. I have a good business head and am a numbers person so the numbers made sense. So I made sure I disclosed everything. I worked my butt off in school. Scored well on test. Zero on pre trip and I had the whole truck, zero on skills and 20 on road. Can't tell you how excited I was. Failed first road test but after posting here and a helpful phone call with a member went in Monday and passed. Just have had the air knocked out of me and feel really list. I have always tried to do the right thing. And I watch people who don't do well. I can't figure it out.

I can't figure it out

Oh you'll figure it all out just fine. We can tell by your attitude toward all of this that you're going to land on your feet and you'll be out there driving for someone in no time. We have a job application you can fill out and it will go to a whole list of companies at one time - check it out:

Truck Driving Jobs

Just apply everywhere and you'll have offers in no time. And keep a great attitude about it. It's a shame things went the way they did at Swift but things will work out for you if you just keep working hard at it and keep moving forward. Have no doubt about that.

And don't let yourself slip into the mindset that life's not fair for you but it's more than fair for others who aren't deserving. In the end you're going to reap what you sow. No one has it bad all the time, no one has it good all the time. We have a ton of really outstanding human beings that frequent this website and all of them have had their ups and downs. All of them have had things go against them even though they were doing everything the right way.

So don't let yourself get discouraged in the least. Let it make you even more determined to get out there and make this career happen. It's in your hands. The opportunity is right in front of you. Fill out apps, make phone calls, and make the most of that next opportunity. It won't be long. You'll see.

Rick s I fully disclosed it. Obviously that's why they forgave the money for school. I didn't lie what I meant was when you have a felony you should never lie about it. They'll find out. And thanks Brett.

I'm not a lawyer so I don't know how they classify stuff, but there was a guy in my orientation with Tyson with a recent felony. He was a new driver with no experience. His situation was similar to yours. KLLM recruitor messed up. I mean almost the exact same scenario. Good luck!