CDL Schools Criminal Background Checks

Do any of the company cdl schools perform the background check before you start to school? I know someone who is interested in becoming a driver. He has a previous arrest, but was not convicted. His record is in the process of being expunged. He is working right now, so he is a little weary about quitting to go to school, then finding out he doesn't qualify. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Patty, I just want to give you a word of warning concerning expungements. While they are beneficial for most job hunting situations, you will find that these large trucking companies have considerable abilities to "uncover" most person's past. Don't count on an expungement to conceal this charge when pursuing a trucking job. I've heard several trucking company executives say that they have the ability to find out what has been expunged from a persons record.

When trying to apply for trucking jobs it is best to go ahead and reveal anything that you think might be a hindrance rather than take the chance of them finding it out through their own efforts. This has always been a big deal in truck driving job searches - if your honest about something that might disqualify you, there will be much more tolerance toward the disqualification than there will be if you try to slip something by them.

Patty, my recommendation would be to start out applying to companies now even though he doesn't have his CDL yet. Take a look at this information on Understanding Pre-Hires . If he can go ahead and get a few pre-hires in his hands (and by a few I mean at least three) then I would say it is safe to go to a private school and then try to get on with the folks who gave him a pre-hire letter. I would also try applying to Company-Sponsored Training programs, just because it would cost less, but while you may not get anywhere with them it's worth putting in the effort to try as many of them as you can - you might get lucky.

I don't recommend going to private school and then trying to get a job without already having some pre-hires. Work at it in the order above and you will find success. He may have to settle for less than what he originally wanted, but it won't take but about a year before he could probably go where ever he wants. I would definitely include Western Express in the mix of companies that you are trying to get a pre-hire from - they are much more lenient than others when it comes to issues such as yours.

See Also: Trucking Companies That Hire Drivers With A Felony

Well....if he was charged, but never convicted....there should be no record. If he was charged AND convicted he has a record that he is trying to get expunged....It can't be both ways. But....depending on when the conviction was, and what the conviction was..he may not have anything to worry about. I'd need more information to give a qualified answer...Tell him good luck..

Tell your Friend to be 100% open, honest and upfront with the Recruiters so they can do their job and make sure the Safety Director at the Company knows about the arrest and will sign off on it before they go to the school. Good Luck

Ken

I can't speak for their cdl school..I have my cdl but roehl pulled HireRight report on me . Western Express and Melton did the same .

I imagine any transport company looking for new cdl drivers or students will definitely check out perspective drivers as common practice .

It's a drug possession charge. He went through a program called "pre-trial intervention". It involved counseling and community service. There was never an actual trial or conviction. After he graduated from the invention program they gave him papers to get it expunged. I don't really know how it all works, but I do know he was not convicted and he does need to get this charge expunged. Sorry if that's as clear as mud! LOL

I realize all of the companies will run a background check. I just wanted to help him by getting some advice on which companies might do the check before he gets all the way to the school. It would be awful to quit his job and then be told he can't be in the program.

Do you know if any of the companies do the check first?

So far, from I have been through you will get the full alien probe by all companies. They have to cover their ass and the insurance company has to do the same

Tell your Friend to be 100% open, honest and upfront with the Recruiters so they can do their job and make sure the Safety Director at the Company knows about the arrest and will sign off on it before they go to the school. Good Luck

Ken

Would the recruiter refer him to the safety director before he goes to school? That would be great!

Tell your Friend to be 100% open, honest and upfront with the Recruiters so they can do their job and make sure the Safety Director at the Company knows about the arrest and will sign off on it before they go to the school. Good Luck

Ken

Ok now I have another question about this. If he is going to tell the company about the arrest is there any reason to wait until the arrest is expunged before he starts applying? I thought the reason you get it expunged is so you can wipe it out of existance. If you're just going to tell them why get it expunged? I admit I'm a little clueless about this kind of thing.

Companies hold to their own background criteria . Some companies with hire a dui or certain felony convictions if they are date back to # years. Other companies with not hire either under any condition .

You really have to get him to dig in and start calling some recruiters and see what they have to say. There is no harm in research prior to cdl school.

Companies hold to their own background criteria . Some companies with hire a dui or certain felony convictions if they are date back to # years. Other companies with not hire either under any condition .

You really have to get him to dig in and start calling some recruiters and see what they have to say. There is no harm in research prior to cdl school.

Do you know which companies are more likely to hire with a dui or conviction? He doesn't have a conviction, but it seems like those would be companies that might give him a chance.

Also, should he wait until the arrest is expunged or should he start now? It could be several weeks or possibly months before his record is clean.