Beginning The Process Of Becoming A Truck Driver

Michael, I feel the necessity to respond. I had a really hard time getting hired into this industry, and it was during a time when they would take just about anybody with a pulse.

I want to give you two things I learned from my experience.

First... I wouldn't waste the money and time to have your records expunged. Because I got sent home from several company orientations, I learned the trucking companies pay for extensive background checks. I personally witnessed people being sent home because they didn't report their expunged records. The transportation industry is dead serious about this. You will waste your money getting that stuff expunged. It can still be uncovered. They will find it. You are doing yourself a favor by sticking with your current approach.

Second... the time we are in is causing your struggle to be greater. If you can possibly get on with someone, then stay put. Establish yourself as productive, dependable, safe, and easy to work with. Those characteristics are critically important in this business. Today I can work anywhere I choose, and that's just what I'm doing. When I started, you simply wouldn't believe how much rejection I encountered.

I know this probably is discouraging, but it's straight talk from someone who has been there. You're going to have a really difficult time getting hired. There's just no getting around that. Expunged records is not a course of action that I see as helpful. Resilience and persistence are what kept me on course until I landed in pay-dirt.

I don't necessarily think it's your past history that is the sticking point. Location, location , location. I think that your location is making it more difficult, in this already difficult scenario.

You are getting callbacks, which makes me think it's moreso where you live.

Old School is correct, that they will still be able to uncover your conviction, which would make it an automatic send home due to the lie, instead of the actual conviction. Could an expunged record help "prove" you have changed your ways? It's debatable, but they don't just hand out expungement as easily as a guilty verdict. Still hoping you find something.

Michael, I feel the necessity to respond. I had a really hard time getting hired into this industry, and it was during a time when they would take just about anybody with a pulse.

I want to give you two things I learned from my experience.

First... I wouldn't waste the money and time to have your records expunged. Because I got sent home from several company orientations, I learned the trucking companies pay for extensive background checks. I personally witnessed people being sent home because they didn't report their expunged records. The transportation industry is dead serious about this. You will waste your money getting that stuff expunged. It can still be uncovered. They will find it. You are doing yourself a favor by sticking with your current approach.

Second... the time we are in is causing your struggle to be greater. If you can possibly get on with someone, then stay put. Establish yourself as productive, dependable, safe, and easy to work with. Those characteristics are critically important in this business. Today I can work anywhere I choose, and that's just what I'm doing. When I started, you simply wouldn't believe how much rejection I encountered.

I know this probably is discouraging, but it's straight talk from someone who has been there. You're going to have a really difficult time getting hired. There's just no getting around that. Expunged records is not a course of action that I see as helpful. Resilience and persistence are what kept me on course until I landed in pay-dirt.

Old School Yeah this is a hard one to swallow. I went looking and found that you are right and the lawyers are wrong, even if I got a pardon and had the records sealed the records would still be available for Trucking companies because of the Federalies noses being in the mix as well. I am going to see if they can get me off the Canadian list though, there is a program where I could still go into Canada regardless of my background, of course provided the Canooks decided enough time has gone by. Prime actually had a question which had I been able to say I could go to Canada I might have been looked upon in a more kindly light. ANNNYHOW, I will be taking your advice I just hope the Lawyers don't get ****ed off at me and charge me to much for getting them all excited about getting a job that would pay them well and net me nothing.

Michael, I’m posting some info that may help you. I went to Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie, WI in 2018

For a private school, it is very well regarded from my experience. They have your standard CDL program and they have a location nearby for lodging during school. They also have extensive contacts in the industry and an active placement department. When I went, we had recruiters come in from Schneider, Windy Hill Foliage and HOW. HOW is now Bison, a Canadian company.

You could give them a call and see what they say about your prospects. I’m just trying to find that needle in the haystack for you. They have a very informative website.

https://www.truck-school.com/index.php

BTW, about the lawyers:

Surgeons love to operate on lawyers. Lawyers are easy because they are heartless, gutless and spineless and their heads and butts are interchangeable.

You might be able to tell I’m not too fond of the profession. Lol