Felony Jobs
Topic 7468 | Page 1
Frantz, don't spend your money or waste your time on school until you've gotten a few pre-hire letters. As you know you are in a tough situation. It is not impossible, but it is just an extra big hoop that you will have to jump through. Others have done it and I'm sure you can too, but taking the proper steps can save you a lot of wasted effort and grief. Check out this section of the web site on Understanding Pre-Hires . You can actually apply to trucking companies even before you get your CDL , and they can let you know if they could hire you once you get licensed. The pre-hire system has been in practice in this industry for a long time, and it will help you know whether you should go ahead and get started with schooling or not.
One thing you will find is that some of the companies want there to be five years since the final adjudication of your case, and others want ten - some will not hire ex felons at all. You just about have to be completely off paper to be eligible.
You need to apply like crazy to all kinds of places if you expect to get a few interested parties. You can Apply For Truck Driving Jobs at that link on one application and have it sent to a lot of different companies. Don't let the rejections get you down, I know it's easy - I had plenty of them when I got started. But keep plugging away at it, and once you've gotten a couple of pre-hires then you should proceed with your schooling plans.
If you do this out of order you will end up with a CDL that is worthless because still no one will hire you simply because of the reason that you have been out of school for too long. If you can't get a job within about ninety days of your school graduation then there are a lot of folks that just won;t touch you at that point because their insurance carriers are afraid you have already lost some of the skills you learned in school. I had this happen to me.
There are a few companies out there who are more willing to overlook your past, but you really need to start applying now. Come April and March they will start ramping up their hiring, and that would be a great time to jump in, but please try to get some pre-hire commitments first before attending a school. If you can get a few pre-hires then you have something you can pursue with a purpose. Without them you just may be like a dog chasing it's tail, always trying and never quite getting the satisfaction of actually making it happen.
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.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
" have not been in jail since 2011"
Kinda makes it sound like you spent a lot of time there BEFORE 2011. And by "drug tracking" - I'm assuming you mean drug TRAFFICKING?
Your clean driving record is a PLUS.
OS's advice is VERY GOOD - applying and getting pre-hires - before spending the $$ on a CDL you may not be able to use - is VERY GOOD ADVICE.
A lot is going to depend on the NATURE of the charges - how many you have had in the past (like, was this a "one-off", or are you a CAREER CRIMINAL?).
When you apply - be sure and DISCLOSE EVERYTHING in the "time window" they are requesting. If they're asking for 3-5-7 years - answer in that time period. If they ask "have you EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY", that means EVER.
Also check the TWIC website for "disqualifying offenses" - to see if any of your convictions fall into that list. Many companies require getting a TWIC as well as a HazMat endorsement (and the disqualifications are the same for both).
Best of luck...
Rick
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.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
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CDL Pre-Hire Choosing A Trucking Company Drivers Past Legal Issues Getting Your CDL
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TT On Facebook
I'm interested in being a truck driver & I'm having difficulties in finding a trucking job I want to go otr & one day be a successful owner operator but I have no luck in finding a job I'm located in Florida I have not been in jail since 2011 in July & have a clean driving record no drug tracking charges I want to know if someone can lead me in the right direction I will be starting school in April
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.
Owner Operator:
An owner-operator is a driver who either owns or leases the truck they are driving. A self-employed driver.