Looking To Get My CDL And Change Careers At 51.
Topic 28715 | Page 1
All right, here it goes. I am 51 yrs old and am looking to get my cdl. I've mainly worked warehouse/forklift jobs but want to start driving. The issue is...25 years ago I got 2 DUI's. I also have 4 FELONIES on my record the last one being 16 years ago. All of that happened before I was married or had kids. I have settled down now and am married, have 2 kids and no longer drink or lead a crazy lifestyle. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about finding a company to get training/hired with?? Can I even get my cdl and get a job with my past?? Any suggestions/advice will be GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Have no idea if this works.
Expunge your record
https://www.peoples-law.org/expungement-and-changing-your-criminal-record#:~:text=If%20you%20were%20found%20guilty%20of%20one%20of%20the%20expungeable,including%20probation%2C%20whichever%20is%20later.
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
Idk of its state specific or not, but at least in Ohio, 2 DUI convictions would be a lifetime ban from a cdl. Expungement may be an option as the guy above me said.
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
In Oregon 2 DUIs is def a lifetime CDL ban, I am not sure how other states handle it. Some states are stricter than most (particularly West Coast and East coast states).
I would start by calling your state's DMV and discussing it with them FIRST. It would do you no good to apply for company training if your home state won't even issue you a CDL license. I am assuming that you already have your Class C license? If not than you will need to get that first and have a minimum of 1 year clean driving history before even thinking of upgrading to a CDL.
I am no lawyer and no expert, but given how old they are I would imagine things COULD work out for you, just understand that it may take some additional legwork on your part, so BE PATIENT and PERSEVERE if this is something you truly wish to do.
As for being a felon, there's alot if em happily driving truck, I know of at least 1 personally and it changed his life for the better, lot of companies will work with those and the fact that yours are almost 2 decades old looks better, we all make mistakes and as long as we learn from them, that is what counts. I am submitting some links for you to read
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
High Road CDL Training Program
- Trucker's Career Guide: Choosing Your First Truck Driving Job
- Article Category: Finding The Right Truck Driving Job
- Forum Topics Tagged "Choosing A Trucking Company"
Truck Driving JobsApply For Truck Driving Jobs
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.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Before you apply Id HIGHLY reccomend checking with your state's DMV first to see how they would handle the 2 DUIs and take things from there.
I'll leave expungement and all that stuff for lawyers and folks who have actually dealt with that kind of thing.
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
Idk of its state specific or not, but at least in Ohio, 2 DUI convictions would be a lifetime ban from a cdl. Expungement may be an option as the guy above me said.
I'll check into it, but I believe my situation may not be eligible for expungement. I know several guys that have been to prison several times and they somehow managed to get a cdl and got placed with an OTR company.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
Hello, Marlon!
I would suggest going for it. Your record may be far enough in the past to be of no concern. If you can expunge it, all the better.
Also, you mentioned your age. Don't let that be a concern: I just got my CDL last week and started orientation at a carrier yesterday (with whom I had a conditional job offer from one month ago), and I'm 18 years older!
Bill
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.
I dont have the time at the moment to look into it more, but I believe in Ohio and Oregon the lifetime ban only applies of you get a DUI AFTER you already have a CDL. That's how it is in most states. Unless someone beats me to it I'll look into it a little later.
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.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
You are right, it is after you get the cdl not prior. Had me doing research at 930pm haha, this is just Oregon, dunno about OH.
So if you have a CDL or CDP and get dui its a 1 year suspension, a second time gets a lifetime ban with the possibility of reinstatement after 10 years.
You can read the specific verbiage under major offenses just click the plus sign to expand the verbiage.
At any rate this will clearly show that OR is very serious about being under the influence while on duty as a professional driver.
Night yall, this old man needs rest. Bed time
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/driverid/federal_cdl_reqs.aspx
I dont have the time at the moment to look into it more, but I believe in Ohio and Oregon the lifetime ban only applies of you get a DUI AFTER you already have a CDL. That's how it is in most states. Unless someone beats me to it I'll look into it a little later.
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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
Here is what I found in the Ohio CDL manual although it's in line with what I've read for other states. I'm pretty sure it's the same nationwide.
your previous DUI do not count towards this. They only count AFTER you have your CDL.
Having previous DUI and felonies will limit what companies will take you on but somebody will hire you. We highly recommend you Apply For Paid CDL Training. They will run all your background stuff before you even show up to orientation. Upon acceptance all you need to do is pass schooling and you'll have a job. Take a look at these companies that Hire with DUI, and those that Hire with felonies. Your record is old enough that it shouldn't cause too much issue for most companies, however some are a lot more strict than others. Great job getting things turned around. There are people out there on the road that have done much worse.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
DWI:
Driving While Intoxicated
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All right, here it goes. I am 51 yrs old and am looking to get my cdl. I've mainly worked warehouse/forklift jobs but want to start driving. The issue is...25 years ago I got 2 DUI's. I also have 4 FELONIES on my record the last one being 16 years ago. All of that happened before I was married or had kids. I have settled down now and am married, have 2 kids and no longer drink or lead a crazy lifestyle. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about finding a company to get training/hired with?? Can I even get my cdl and get a job with my past?? Any suggestions/advice will be GREATLY APPRECIATED.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence