Potential School Fraud

I recently completed driver training school with the understanding that I would be able to find a job having 3 DUIs. The recruiter insured that even though he could not guarantee me a job there was a job out there for me. I have been searching everywhere to try to find a job and have met nothing but closed doors. It's my understanding and please someone tell me if this is correct but I should not even be in possession of a CDL with three DUIs? Have I been conned? Do I need to contact a lawyer? I sure could use a straight answer because no one is really giving me one. Can I or can I not possess a CDL with 3 DUIs?

Hey James, welcome to Trucking Truth!

It is entirely possible to get a CDL , but struggle to find work. Yes, truck drivers are in demand, but not all drivers are insurable. Many companies won't hire you because your driving record doesn't meet their standards or their insurance won't cover you.

I'm a little unclear about your situation.

Did you complete driving school?

Do you have your CDL?

Was it a private CDL school or was it a trucking company that trained you?

How long ago were the convictions? Very important detail. I have a couple myself but enough time has past that I had no problems finding work.

I recently completed driver training school with the understanding that I would be able to find a job having 3 DUIs. The recruiter insured that even though he could not guarantee me a job there was a job out there for me. I have been searching everywhere to try to find a job and have met nothing but closed doors. It's my understanding and please someone tell me if this is correct but I should not even be in possession of a CDL with three DUIs? Have I been conned? Do I need to contact a lawyer? I sure could use a straight answer because no one is really giving me one. Can I or can I not possess a CDL with 3 DUIs?

Have I been conned?

If you come to Trucking Truth before going to any CDL Training, your chances of being “conned” are greatly reduced.

I’m always amazed at how many people find this site after they have problems.

But seriously, when were the DUI’s? Did you ask the Recruiter WHICH companies hire with DUI’s and from their school?

The recruiter “insured” you that even though he couldn’t guarantee you a job, there was one out there for you.

What he said was basically true. Don’t waste your money on a lawyer because unless you have a guarantee in WRITING you really have nothing. There IS a job out there for you, but it will no doubt be a needle-in-a-haystack type of search. It will not be quick and easy. You might have to find a CDL B type job so as to let time separate you from those DUI convictions.

Have you quit drinking? Alcohol and driving are strictly prohibited in the trucking/insurance industry, for obvious liability reasons.

It's my understanding and please someone tell me if this is correct but I should not even be in possession of a CDL with three DUIs? Have I been conned? Do I need to contact a lawyer? I sure could use a straight answer because no one is really giving me one.

One straight answer coming up...

There is no reason or law saying you can't have 3 DUIs and then obtain your CDL. If that is what you did, then you are fine - there's nothing wrong with that scenario. There is confusion over this because you cannot keep your CDL if you get 3 DUIs after obtaining it. Hopefully that clarifies that issue for you. If you had DUIs before getting your CDL that is okay. If you got 3 DUIs after getting your CDL, you are no longer allowed a CDL.

Now onto the question of being conned. You didn't get conned. You went to a CDL school, you passed, and you got your CDL. Congratulations! That is what you went for, that is what they charged you for, and that is what you got. Both parties met their obligations and did their part - everybody should be happy. There is no need for any attorneys.

I completely understand why you are frustrated about no job prospects. Perhaps the school was a little misleading, but if they conducted the conversation the way you described it, they did nothing illegal. I'm quoting you here...

The recruiter insured that even though he could not guarantee me a job there was a job out there for me.

There is nothing misleading about that statement. The recruiter chose their words carefully because they knew they were treading on thin ice. In this case the ice holds up under the weight of their comments.

I want to tell you about a young man we had in here many years ago. He was struggling with your same issue. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, I think he had 3 DUIs prior to his obtaining his CDL. He couldn't find a job and he searched high and low. Nobody would hire him. Some of these companies have a limit of two. Other companies want so much time between your last DUI and your time of getting hired. Some don't allow any DUIs. Those are all reasonable criteria in a safety sensitive position like driving an 80,000 pound truck down the road beside mini vans full of children.

Okay, back to our friend who had your same issue. We advised him to quit trying the large trucking companies doing OTR type work. We told him to start scouring Craig's List and try to find something in the construction industry. He ended up finding a company doing excavation work that needed someone to drive a rig moving machinery like bull dozers and excavators to job sites and back. That was not the type of work he had been looking at, but it worked out for him to get his foot in the door. He did that for about three years. After that he went back to looking for an over the road trucking job. Guess what happened? The former companies who wouldn't give him the slightest chance were all of a sudden impressed that he had taken a trucking job and stuck with it for three years! That problem with those DUIs seemed to have diminished by his actions and perseverance.

You haven't been conned. You just haven't dug in hard enough and looked in the right places. There is a job out there for you. Go find it and stick with it. That's how you prove your worth in this business. You have a history to overcome. That will take extra effort on your part. Get out there and show those folks who rejected you what you are really made of.

Hey everyone,

James replied but inadvertently replied by creating new topics instead of replying here so I'll post his replies:

James said:

I want to thank everyone for their honesty and straightforward comments towards my 3 DUIs and what it's going to take for me to get a job in this industry. To answer some of the questions the DUIs are more than 10 years apart each I received one 30 years ago another one 25 years ago and my last one which resulted in a felony was 12 years ago. Not sure what the time limit is or the spacing is required to get a job but this has caused a lot of difficulty in me obtaining or being able to seek out experience in the trucking industry. I will continue to look and I just hope that something will show up for me out there thank you all.

James then went on to say:

I also wanted to make clear for those who asked that I have not had a drink in 12 years I learned from losing my license for 10 years that alcohol is not something that needs to be a part of my life. My body mind and spirit have thanked me for making this decision. As well as my family members and friends. Thank you all again for your input. It's been beneficial to me.

Hey James,

When you want to reply, just hit the red button that says "Start New Reply" after the last comment in the conversation.

Congratulations on your sobriety. Have a look at this link in regards to companies hiring with DUI .

The economy is in the toilet and freight has slowed so it's not an ideal time to land a job even with a clean record. When you do land a job please share that with us so we can help others in a similar situation. Also, if in your job search the recruiters tell you their alcohol policy differs from the link provided please let us know so we can be sure we're providing the most accurate information.

Have you tried Western Express? They tend to be one of the carriers that are more lenient with people's past. Wherever you end just get your experience and you can always move on after a year or so if you're unhappy.

I'd imagine there's a ton of freight moving around down there in the Phoenix area so that's a positive.