Is Background A Big Issue Or Not?
Topic 11798 | Page 1
Some companies might take issue with the bounced check since it's considered fraud, but if you are open and honest I doubt it will hinder your employment opportunities. Given how long ago it was and the fact that you've "done your time" I wouldn't sweat it. Just remember to put it on any applications you fill out because if it's on your record they will find it and you don't want to seem like you're trying to hide something.
Credit isn't a factor in hiring at most companies. It might be in some smaller and/or more prestigious fleets (and chances are you won't qualify for them without experience anyway), but most major carriers couldn't care less. I got prehires from over ten companies and my credit was atrocious.
Don't mention the pot smoking. It was so long ago that you'll pass any drug test. If they ask "have you ever taken illegal drugs?" your answer should be a confident no.
Prehire:
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.
Prehires:
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.
Don't they do a polygraph? I'd rather be honest, I just don't want to make any big decisions like quitting my job to start school only to not have a job driving lol
Don't they do a polygraph? I'd rather be honest, I just don't want to make any big decisions like quitting my job to start school only to not have a job driving lol
No. No polygraph. Besides, the polygraph isn't even admissible in court, a company would have a hard time getting away with that one. I think you'll be ok.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
No polygraph. Except in very specific circumstances which will not apply to you, employers are prohibited from using polygraph tests on employees. More info here: DoL Polygraph Act
I can't think of a single reason why smoking a joint fifteen years ago would have any bearing on your ability to perform your job today, and if I was in your position I wouldn't tell them about it. You can disclose it if you like, but personally I think it might do more harm than good. Others here might disagree, if so I'd hear them out. I've been wrong in the past.
Don't they do a polygraph? I'd rather be honest, I just don't want to make any big decisions like quitting my job to start school only to not have a job driving lol
Jason - compared to some other folks, your "record" is pristine. No felonies, no "drug" issues I'm sure as long as you learn and earn your CDL you'll have no problem getting into the industry. Polygraph's are way to costly, I get one every 4 yrs for my SSBI in my current job, for a trucking company. Don't stress Jason
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.
Don't admit to ever trying drugs, out send like recently sunshine posted that they were denied a job offer because they said they had tried drugs before and the company reported it on the guys record. If you can pass a drug test then dont worry about it man, you'll just open a huge can of worms
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Bounced checks pffft it can happen to anyone.
My ex handled the bills back in the day (80's), send me to the store with the check book, no current balances filled in, she'd tell me " I got em, will fill in later" "later" never came, I think that month @ B of A I paid $180 in bad check fee's needless to say she lost control of my finances! hahaha
Yeah your record is fine. It won't be a problem.
Josh makes an excellent point. When you fill out applications you want to be 100% honest with the questions they ask but do not volunteer any information they don't specifically ask about. If they want to know if you've driven a vehicle off a cliff in the past five years but it's been 5 1/2 years since you drove your last vehicle off a cliff then you simply answer "no" and leave it at that. Don't volunteer anything.
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I have a pretty clean background, by I'm just checking to see if I'll run into any issues... 1-driving record is clean now. I've had a lot of speeding tickets when I was young and dumb. none in the last 5 years.
2-I have a misdemeanor bad check charge. it's also over 5 years old. I paid restitution, did my probation and have not had legal issues since.
3-my credit is bad. it was good, but then we had triplets. they stayed in the hospital for a while when they were born and so a lot of bills got behind. now we are about to file bankruptcy because it's over $50k and I still have other bills to pay. my car ended up going back, and I went over limit on all credit cards just trying to stay afloat. prior to that, my credit was impeccable.
4-I smoked marijuana. twice in my life, but it happened. also, over 5 years ago the last time was actually closer to 15 years ago.
other than that, I'm not concerned. is any of this stuff I should be concerned with, or am I probably going to be fine.
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.