Looking For The Truth From The Professional’s

I am currently looking to change careers. I have an over the road flat bedder with 30+ years experience in the family and I have been out on the road with Him for a week In order to get just a small taste of what it’s like to live in a truck. So I have a general Idea of what being a professional driver entails. I was approved for the wioa program which provides paid training in serval different industries. I applied for the CDL training and after going through multiple interviews they have denied me CDL training because of multiple traffic violations from 2009, including misdemeanor fleeing and alluding, improper lane usage, and disregarding a traffic control device. Due to the three movers in a year my license was suspended for one year. This was in a personal vehicle without a CDL. They have given me a one week window to provide them with a pre- hire letter that states that the company issuing the letter is aware of both my criminal and mvr past and is willing to continue with the hiring process. have had no other traffic violations since 2009. I also have a felony on my record from 2017 for unarmed robbery. I have spoken to recruiters at just about every company that I can find that will hire people with felonies. I have told them about the felony and my driving record. All of them have told me that they are only looking back a maximum of 10 years on my Mvr and And that my suspension, prior tickets,and the misdemeanor for fleeing and alluding will not come in to play because they are more than 10 years old and that I am being honest about them upfront. They have also told me that as long as I am honest about them as well about my felony, They would send me a per-hire letter in order to show the wioa program That I am hireable and that their are companies that would be willing to give me a chance as a new truck driver once I obtain my CDL-A. I have done a ton of research both internet and you tube. I completely understand that I will hear more no’s from companies than yeses and that I obviously have a uphill battle. So now that you have my background I will get to the questions. The Wioa program spoke to the owner of the truck driving school that I planned on attending and they are using him as their “expert opinion”. He is telling them that there is nothing that technically keeps me from getting my CDL-A or my hazmat for that matter and that he knows from personal experience that felons with multiple Convictions have turned their lives around and earned their CDL and are now being gain-fully employed in the trucking industry. However, he says that in my case having both a felony and the traffic tickets/suspension 11 years ago will make it almost impossible to get hired. I know from my reader h that some recruiters will tell you anything to get you through their door and then send you home during orientation. So even after having several conversations with recruiters at both medium-size and mega carriers and having them tell me that they can work with me and give me my first trucking job I don’t know what to believe. I am looking for any advice from people in the profession and hopefully even people that have been in similar situation to mine. Even if the Wioa program denies me. I plan on going to CDL school even if I have to pay for it out of pocket. I believe that I am employable in this industry but I honestly what do I know considering I’m a newbie… Lol! Please help and let me know what my realistic chances are, I know there are no guarantees but I am definitely willing to put in the work and do whatever I have to do to overcome the hurdles.

Try and keep trying is what I can suggest. Strong armed robbery and fleeing and alluding? Those two alone would really stand out to me if I were looking at applications.

Secondly, I would never, ever recommend you going to school just to get a CDL on your own. If you get it, then are still passed over by every company you've spent several thousand dollars for basically a worthless endorsement. Pointless.

Your bio lists Chicago which should be a source of many trucking opportunities. I would recommend sticking with the grant of WIOA for school costs. Apply everywhere, and don't limit yourself to only Class A work. Class B is also truck driving and should help with experience in the future.

I have personal experience dealing with a tough background issue. There is a thread here where I provide the chronology of my own route to a career in trucking.

To begin, you absolutely are hireable. Now, it will be a difficult road to get there, but it's possible, if you are persistent, maintain a positive attitude, and have a combination of humility and self-confidence.

You are in a great location for trucking. I have a list of companies that hire recent CDL grads out of the Chicago area that work with background issues. Two of these companies actually operate their own schools. I know from speaking with recruiters at these companies regarding my own situation that they will hire convicted felons without experience. They obviously can't hire every felon, but perhaps one of them will give you a chance. All you need is one.

Butler Transport

Western Express

TransAm

Tyson

CFI (trains through a college in Missouri, I believe, for CDL).

Dutch Maid Logistics (has its own school)

PAM Transport (trains through Driver Solutions to obtain CDL).

Continental Express

Premier Refrigerated Transport

Western Dairy Transport (has 3 academy locations -- Bryan, TX; Abernathy, TX; Cabool, MO).

I make no guarantee that any of these companies is willing to hire you, but I do guarantee that they told me personally that a felony does not automatically disqualify an applicant.

One last thought. Where you are located are quite a few small trucking companies. Many of these companies hire on what is called a 1099. Stay away from them. Any company with which you apply, ask if they hire on W-2 or 1099. Always stick with companies that hire on W-2.

Best of luck to you.

May Trucking is also a company that may be willing to give you a shot. I spoke with them during my own search and I personally am not qualified for hire, but a felony conviction is not an automatic disqualifier with May Trucking.

Def check with May Trucking - they were my starter company before I got on with Marten. They are typically very forgiving (no gurantees as each person is a case by case basis).

The plus side is they do offer a reimbursement program for your CDL once you get it and they do offer LOGs , backing and driving training - you have o get your CDL PRIVATELY as they do not have a school. If you have any ?? About May trucking ask away!

May Trucking is also a company that may be willing to give you a shot. I spoke with them during my own search and I personally am not qualified for hire, but a felony conviction is not an automatic disqualifier with May Trucking.

Thank you guys for info. I just finished applying to may trucking. I have already received pre-hire letters from Transam and western express. I am hoping to receive at least one more so that I can show the Wioa program that even though I have a uphill battle ahead of me, I am employable in this profession. I know that I will have to work extremely hard in order to make this a reality. I am thankful that I found this community and can gain some valuable insight from your experiences!

You mentioned getting a hazmat , that might be a little tougher given your history but there are way more general freight jobs out there that don’t require a hazmat. However, if you’re looking to add endorsements like the tanker and double/triple, take those tests while you’re on your learners permit if you can. That should help save some money getting them sooner rather than later. I didn’t have to pay for mine at all because I added them before I got my CDL. The hazmat is a different story these days as it was back then but give it a shot… anything is possible. Our industry is so hard up for drivers right now that I don’t see how many of the larger companies could afford to turn people away .

Hazmat requires being at least 5 years removed from prison release in the case of robbery before it can be obtained.

https://teamster.org/hazmat-background-checks-disqualifying-crimes/#:~:text=Espionage,an%20explosive%20or%20explosive%20device