Background Checks

G-Town

I have Pre-hires through Swift, US Express, And USA Truck. Maverick will give me one ass soon as I verify an unemployment period. I was just more curious if Werner would let me go to an Orientation. I filled out a Schneider app today.

I know I’ll be able to find work. I just want to get as many pre-hires as I can so I have plenty of options.

G-Town

I have Pre-hires through Swift, US Express, And USA Truck. Maverick will give me one ass soon as I verify an unemployment period. I was just more curious if Werner would let me go to an Orientation. I filled out a Schneider app today.

I know I’ll be able to find work. I just want to get as many pre-hires as I can so I have plenty of options.

Good for you, glad to hear that. Your approach is spot-on.

Werner's delayed reply is a non-issue for you. That not withstanding, my response is applicable to everyone trying to enter the business.

Bumping this for Joe's benefit:

Joe, wrote:

I do have a certificate but it is for 80-hour refresher. When I contacted the school, in the beginning, I told them I had driven for a while for Schlumberger in 2008. Went to their two-week school even. Wasn't a whole lot of driving but the head of the school said a refresher would be good. Now it seems to be a problem, at least for Werner.

Joe DUIs are considered very differently by trucking companies, and for good reason. As per Rainy's comprehensive reply (please read what she suggested especially pertaining to filling out applications, very important), each company has their own policy for DUIs. Contrary to Werner's explanation or your understanding of it, they have a lifetime limit of 1 DUI. With 2 no matter how old or why, you are disqualified because of Werner's hiring policy. This is perhaps the reason you were sent home. That's the hard truth.

3 weeks of schooling vs. 5 weeks of school; not exactly true. Any reputable school will provide you a certificate proving successful completion of the minimum required 160 hours of instruction. This certificate, plus the valid CDL pre-qualifies you for most all carriers hiring newbies. Without it, any reputable company will not be able to hire you; their insurance will not cover you. That said, all of the trucking companies offering Paid CDL Training Programs are about 3-3.5 weeks duration of instruction necessary to pass the CDL tests. Do you have any training certificate from the school you graduated from? If not, you will likely need to repeat this step to satisfy insurance requirements of a prospective employer.

Here is what I suggest, study each company found in this link: Trucking Company Reviews

Identify any company that road-trains (aka: mentoring or finish training), will hire entry level drivers and accepts 2 DUI's as part of their hiring policy. Like Rainy said, be careful how applications are worded; only provide exactly what is asked for, noting more and nothing less.

Good luck.

Geez Joe...

Private Schools will take your money. They are in no position to make hiring decisions for any trucking company, let alone Werner. NO idea why the school offered that as an acceptable minimum, it's not for possibly two reasons. If you have less than 1 year of continuous experience with Schlumberger most reputable companies will want the full 160 hours of training. Even so, your experience is very dated, 10 years. Trucking companies are risk averse and most likely none of them will hire you with only a two-week refresher. Short-cuts usually amount to frustration. I still think part of Werner's issue is the 2 DUIs and they used the 80 hour refresher as an easier, less contentious explanation. Regardless, "it is what it is".

Do yourself a big favor, focus on the best solution to your situation, re: the suggestion and information links I sent you. Based on what we know about you so far; consider going the route of Paid CDL Training Programs offered by any carrier that will accept 2 DUIs. Let them determine how best to proceed based on your CMV driving experience.

Use this link to apply: Apply For Paid CDL Training

Good luck.

Criminal history checks go back forever by everyone. That said, some companies will except candidates with older criminal convictions, which they usually evaluate on a case by case basis.

Does anybody know if the bigger companies like Swift or Prime do background checks over ten years?

I don't think our typical HireRight background checks go past 7-10 years. I see people being honest (good!) and putting things on their apps from 2005, 2002, etc... that don't show up on our Criminal Background history.

Now don;t take this as advice to lie on your application, but a full "Life time" background check must be a costly endevor, because we are very picky and precise, and I never find things over 7 years old to match up on the background check.

Now the Sex Offender check is totally different, and I have never seen that fail to find those crimes. The company will find a way to reject any applicant that has severe sex crimes or crimes against children. Even if they can't say its for the crime (Ban the Box, etc...), they will find something that's not perfect on the app and reject it. (Sort of like a DOT Inspector/Highway patrolman having a bad day - they will find a reason to give you a ticket if they need to)

DUI is lifetime.

When I went through orientation, security came in and explained that "some of you may have paid to have charges expunged from your record, but we pay a pretty decent price to find them, and we will. Be upfront with us. "

I actually confessed to being locked up at 17 for some stupid misdemeanor (was in a holding cell for 24hrs) where I made restitution and charges were dropped.

If in doubt, be upfront about it.

Better to be denied, than to get there and be sent home.

Hey, Rainy thanks for response by the way. Been talking to a prime recruiter named Jorge and he says since my DUI's were 20 years ago they would not be an issue. Do you think he is just trying to get numbers? Really don't need to be wasting my time with being sent back home after a few days. Joe

Work history the last 3 years if 10 years if you were a driver.

driving record, the last 3 years

convictions and DUI are company specific. some companies will not allow even 1 DUI others might say 2, others might say 1 in a lifetime

be honest and only answer what is asked. "Have gou EVER been convicted" is much different from "have you been convicted the last 3 years"

I work for Prime who is stricter than others. there are "second chance" companies but might as well try the others first.

whats the issue...we might be able to help

Sorry, one more question. whats your opinion of primes lease?

Work history the last 3 years if 10 years if you were a driver.

driving record, the last 3 years

convictions and DUI are company specific. some companies will not allow even 1 DUI others might say 2, others might say 1 in a lifetime

be honest and only answer what is asked. "Have gou EVER been convicted" is much different from "have you been convicted the last 3 years"

I work for Prime who is stricter than others. there are "second chance" companies but might as well try the others first.

whats the issue...we might be able to help

Sorry, one more question. whats your opinion of primes lease?

Work history the last 3 years if 10 years if you were a driver.

driving record, the last 3 years

convictions and DUI are company specific. some companies will not allow even 1 DUI others might say 2, others might say 1 in a lifetime

be honest and only answer what is asked. "Have gou EVER been convicted" is much different from "have you been convicted the last 3 years"

I work for Prime who is stricter than others. there are "second chance" companies but might as well try the others first.

whats the issue...we might be able to help

STAY AWAY FROM LEASING ! As a new driver, you'll have way to many things to worry about and learn. After driving a year or two, you'll have better handle on things to make a better educated decision

Same as it is for all leases. Don't do it...

Leasing, Risks Vs Rewards

As a rookie, please put it completely out of your mind. Your learning curve will be steep and at times very unforgiving. No need to compound it unnecessarily becoming a L/O.

It's like asking Santa for a road-racing bicycle before learning to crawl.

Good luck.