DUI?
Topic 19510 | Page 1
So I think you might know the answer to this already... you're most likely going to need to address that ignored ticket before you can proceed. I don't mean to sound like an ass but why disregard it? They never go away; they just accumulate late fees and fines. That's probably why it's up to $2,500 as DUI charges usually hover around $1,000. You might be able to negotiate a lower payment but I'm fairly certain you'll have to pay it.
Regarding the TX vs CA thing... while you were active duty, perhaps CA was listed as your state of residence for purposes of your deployment.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
If you were arrested and cited - you were CHARGED.
They didn't just "drop it".
The fact that you haven't been ARRESTED for it, I find amazing.
Failure To Appear on a DUI is pretty serious.
The $2,500 is a guilty plea - and a CONVICTION. And a lot depends on the CONVICTION DATE (which is what companies go by, when taking a DUI into account).
Most companies will not hire a DUI, newer than 5 years from conviction.
I would CONTACT THE LAWYER that "handled this" for you. Since you PAID HIM - he can provide whatever documentation/disposition that's required to clarify the exact status of this case.
You can probably look this up on the Clerk of Court website for the county you got charged in. Your attorney may have gotten you into a "first time offenders diversion program" - but there are requirements (including a fine) that must be completed, in order to close the case.
Folks that get this "diversion program" are under the misguided impression, that they NEVER HAD A DUI. In fact YOU DID - but the state opted to not put it down as a CONVICTION.
If you happened to "ship out", before completing the DUI school/courses/etc., that still doesn't relieve you of your obligation to complete the requirements of diversion program - and in many cases, failure to complete the court ordered requirements, will result in the diversion agreement BEING VOIDED and a CONVICTION getting entered on the DUI charge (instead of a dismissal upon completion).
Meanwhile - if you were arrested, fingerprinted, etc. - a RECORD OF THE ARREST is on the Federal NCIC System, and WILL SHOW UP ON A BACKGROUND CHECK.
It's actually a GOOD THING this popped on you. Hate to see someone go through school, and then not be able to get hired because of a "too recent DUI charge".
I'd start with he LAWYER YOU HIRED to deal with this.
I'd also recommend checking out:
- Article: Understanding Pre-Hire Letters: The What, Why, And How Of This Important Step
- Trucker's Wiki: "Pre-Hire Letters"
- Forum Topics Tagged "CDL Pre-Hire Letters"
to make SURE you can actually get hired with this in your (recent) history - BEFORE you go through the trouble of getting a CDL you might not actually be able to use right away.
Most trucking companies are going to want you in orientation 30-60 days max, after graduation. If your "DUI issue" prevents you from getting a hire right away, you are just going to have to go back through training AGAIN.
Rick
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.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
You need to get that CA situation cleared up ASAP. Hire a lawyer if necessary. Trucking companies do very thorough background checks and will find everything. As far as a DUI from 3 years ago, that may be long enough for some companies. Being a military vet gives you some help with most companies. Try our beginner steps.
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
Then look here. Paid CDL Training Programs There are other companies that offer company sponsored training. I'm going through CFI's training. You can read my training diary here. Good luck.
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.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
Thanks fellas. I was thinking along the lines of that, especially with the diversion program. I cant sag I remember being fingerprinted and what not but any how Im definitely going to get off my ass and get that done. I cant get my dl let alone a cdl right now until I do so. Ill give yall an update as soon as I know. MUCH thanks!
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.
The other issue is the hold on your license. Even without the DUI problem, alot of companies take issue with recent suspensions or holds on your license. Your best bet is to clear up the DUI stuff, then work on getting prehires and/or trying to get hired in company-sponsored training before you actually go to school and spend any money on a cdl.
Most companies are going to turn you down until more time has passed, but you may find a few willing to take you on once you get the DUI and license issues taken care of.
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.
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Prehires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
My first post so here goes. Im VERY much interested in beginning a career in trucking, but I have a barrier (or so I think) that maybe could trip me or maybe im tripping. When I was in the navy back in '14 I got a DUI that went under my commands nose because I paid a lawyer upfront to get it handled. I was never formally charged but I did have to sit in the "drunk" tank for 8hrs and was issued a ticket which I disregarded. Fast forward to now and I was gearing up to go to the local truck driving school under the WIOA program and all I needed was to get my learners permit to begin so I go to the DMV and they tell me that I have a hold on my license and I can get my permit once its removed then gave me a paper with this number in California to call. So I call and lo and behold this is the madatory actions unit and they tell me that ticket that I disregarded was $2500 and I have to pay this before they can even think about removing it. Im not from California as I have a TX DL but is anyone familiar with such a situation and would this trip me up? Also I checked my TX DL verified record and I don't see any charge so Im believing Im clear.
Thanks all Yamu!
Was the ticket for DUI? If so, I'm not sure what your lawyer did to handle it :) As has been said, you can look up the county clerk of court and query on your name and find a list of charges, status, etc. I would do that before you decide on your next move.
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
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My first post so here goes. Im VERY much interested in beginning a career in trucking, but I have a barrier (or so I think) that maybe could trip me or maybe im tripping. When I was in the navy back in '14 I got a DUI that went under my commands nose because I paid a lawyer upfront to get it handled. I was never formally charged but I did have to sit in the "drunk" tank for 8hrs and was issued a ticket which I disregarded. Fast forward to now and I was gearing up to go to the local truck driving school under the WIOA program and all I needed was to get my learners permit to begin so I go to the DMV and they tell me that I have a hold on my license and I can get my permit once its removed then gave me a paper with this number in California to call. So I call and lo and behold this is the madatory actions unit and they tell me that ticket that I disregarded was $2500 and I have to pay this before they can even think about removing it. Im not from California as I have a TX DL but is anyone familiar with such a situation and would this trip me up? Also I checked my TX DL verified record and I don't see any charge so Im believing Im clear.
Thanks all Yamu!
WIOA:
WIOA - Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (aka WIA)
Formerly known as the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the WIOA was established in 1998 to prepare youth, adults and dislocated workers for entry and reentry into the workforce. WIOA training funds are designed to serve laid-off individuals, older youth and adults who are in need of training to enter or reenter the labor market. A lot of truck drivers get funding for their CDL training through WIOA.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence