Felony From The Past

Hey family, more than 13yrs ago I made a dreadful mistake of agreeing to mule drugs from one place to another. needless to say, I was pulled over, arrested, and finally convicted of posses w/intent to distribute. My life has not been the same since and im treated like an outcast from society. I haven't been in trouble with the law before that incident or since. I've heard murderers have been given more opportunities than people who have been in a situation like mine. is the trucking industry just as non-forgiving as the rest of working America seems or is it just me? can I get my cdl and have some level of expectations to get my life back on track?

Some companies won't hire, but some will....

The "Good" News...It is more than 10 years old. That is a fairly good standard which by many companies that hire felons go by. Some go by 15 or 20 years, some go by less.

The BAD News...Thankfully you did NOT do it in a commercial vehicle (PLEASE tell us you were driving a car, van or pick up). "Moving" drugs is frowned upon. Trucking companies tend to treat drunk drivers or someone who committed manslaughter or murder better than someone who was transporting drugs. They want to be sure you won't use their equipment to move EVEN MORE drugs.

Again, it is over 10 years. You'll have a little difficulty, but there is definitely a company out there that will hire you if you have a CDL.

Dave

Robert, welcome to the forum!

Man you picked a really tough battle to fight. I'm not saying you can't do it, because I think you can, but oh man that drug trafficking charge is a really big obstacle in this career. Hey, I've never shared this on this forum, but I'm gonna tell you I know what it's like to be locked up. I've had to overcome some problems in my past, so I can sympathize with you completely, and we've got some other folks here in this forum who've been in prison and had felonies in their past who are now running across the country in a big rig. So, I'm just saying that it is doable, but not easily doable.

Here's what I want to say, and it is meant sincerely in hopes of helping you. I've got a good friend with a felony charge from when he was 18 years old, and he has never gotten over the fact that the rest of the world won't forgive and forget his youthful indiscretions. It has crippled him his whole life. I sensed just a touch of this attitude in your post, and forgive me if I'm wrong, but that's what I want to address. Somehow you've got to move past that rotten feeling deep in your gut and realize that you made a dumb mistake that will stick with you for the rest of your life. Is it fair? No not really, but life is not fair for any of us. I've known some people who would just amaze you at the obstacles they've overcome, in fact they would make you feel guilty for ever feeling sorry for yourself at all. Your felony is ten years old, even if the rest of the world won't forget about it, you've got to move on from it. Don't let it be a ball and chain on your life.

I think you can get a job in trucking, but man it is going to be tough. I don't think you will be able to get on in a company sponsored training program, which will mean you've got to go for a private school. That takes some money. Set your mind on this goal of setting aside some money for schooling and in the mean time start applying for truck driving jobs with the intent of getting some pre-hire letters. Read this information on Understanding Pre-Hires so you'll know what I'm talking about. Get yourself a few pre-hires if you can and then get started with school. If you go to school first and then find out you just can't get a job you wasted your money. There are grants and unemployment programs available also for funding, but I think for your situation if you will set this as a goal and work on it for however long it takes, you will start to realize that your future depends on your own choices and willingness to make the sacrifices necessary, and not upon the willingness of others to forgive you for your past mistakes.

I wish you the best - I really do!

By the way, check into a company called Carolina Cargo, they've hired some ex-felons in the past and they just might be willing to give you a shot. Best of luck to ya man!