Profile For Philip F.

Is the trucking industry in a recession?

No sir old school. I should have clarified my question as it pertains to me. I’m 49 and most of the last 10 years in fact all but maybe 5 of the last 10 years I’ve worked for small companies being paid off the books due to my felony conviction from 2003. Is there a way for me to prove that I worked for those companies that would be good enough to get my foot in the door with a trucking company? I’ve read some of the posts here saying you can get the company owners to write statements saying you worked for them. Thank you for any help and advice with this. I want to succeed with this so badly to provide for my family and do something that would be a great accomplishment for me.

If you're not old enough to have a ten year work history, you just provide what you have. School transcripts are also proof of what you've been doing.

Sorry was typing and someone was talking to me at the same time when I asked the question earlier. What I meant was. If you come out of a paid CDL program with a company for instance and you’ve signed a one year contract. Unless you have a good work history of 10 years you’re gonna have to drive with the company that paid for your training to get that 10 year work history to apply to other companies. Would that be correct?

So if you come out of a paid CDL training through a company and start driving for them if you don’t have 10 years work history already you better be ready to drive for that company because you can’t go anywhere else after your contract is up because you don’t have a 10 years work history?

Turns out you just needed to have at least 3 years of VERIFIABLE employment. 7 years if you drove with those employers.

Technically by law you'll need 10 years of employment history once you've been a commercial driver. If you've never been a commercial driver before then most companies only require 3 years of employment history.

So once you've had a driving job from that point on you'll always need 10 years of employment history.

So if you come out of a paid CDL training through a company and start driving for them if you don’t have 10 years work history already you better be ready to drive for that company because you can’t go anywhere else after your contract is up because you don’t have a 10 years work history?

Turns out you just needed to have at least 3 years of VERIFIABLE employment. 7 years if you drove with those employers.

Technically by law you'll need 10 years of employment history once you've been a commercial driver. If you've never been a commercial driver before then most companies only require 3 years of employment history.

So once you've had a driving job from that point on you'll always need 10 years of employment history.

Oh wow. So how do guys break into the industry with no work history?

Do they call and contact them when I get to Kentucky or do they want w2’s?

Likely both. It would be wise to bring your work-related paperwork with you

I’ve been accepted into the CDL programs of swift and usXpress recently. I was given a date for usXpress for their school in Kentucky. On my application I listed my past two employers for the last 6 years. How will they verify my work history with them? Do they call and contact them when I get to Kentucky or do they want w2’s?

In addition,

...documented work history:

Dated letters from people you worked for while self-employed, customer invoices, income statements and tax returns. Anything that proves gainful employment.

I have read about so many people going to prison and getting out and having much worse but still going to company sponsored CDL programs and getting jobs. Do you think because the steroid charges and domestic stuff I don't have a chance? The other felony is from 1990 thats almost 30 years old. I was really hoping that with all I have read about guys getting hired that have done serious prison time that I would have a chance.

Understand some companies will have a lifetime limit. You are talking 3 felonies (drug related) and 2 misdemeanors (violence related). That sounds bad

CDL schools will take your money and cant guarantee a job, so dont waste your money.

Call EVERY sponsored training you can find and be honest. Take responsibility. Be matter of fact but dont downplay it. "It was only $100" or "i didnt touch her" won't help you. It will look like avoiding responsibility.

I know a Prime recruiter told me 10 years from the completion of a felony sentence. They gave one of my trainees a hassle about 2 misdemeanors that were 20 years old.

Dont give up, but realize it could be an uphill battle. Company policies constantly change. good luck

Companies that Hire Felons

Thank you so much for your reply. I really want to do this to provide a better life for my family and I’m more than willing to take the bumps to get going in the trucking industry all I want is the chance. I’ve read a lot about other people who have things in their past I’m just hope I can have that success as well

I’m currently a month shy of my 50th. I have one felony conviction from 1990 and two from 2003. The 2003 is possession and possession with intent to sell and deliver steroids about 100.00 dollars worth. I was convicted of assault on female and a domestic violence protective order violation both misdemeanors in 2017. The domestic stuff was over having an affair and I never struck my wife. Is it possible for me to find a company sponsored program for CDL and a job with the company? I received 2 yrs probation on the 2003 charges and the 2017 charges and completed both probation periods without any problems. I know this is a lot but any and all help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I’m currently a month shy of my 50th. I have one felony conviction from 1990 and two from 2003. The 2003 is possession and possession with intent to sell and deliver steroids about 100.00 dollars worth. I was convicted of assault on female and a domestic violence protective order violation both misdemeanors in 2017. The domestic stuff was over having an affair and I never struck my wife. Is it possible for me to find a company sponsored program for CDL and a job with the company? I received 2 yrs probation on the 2003 charges and the 2017 charges and completed both probation periods without any problems. I know this is a lot but any and all help or advice would be greatly appreciated.