Even A Not Guilty Of DUI Can Harm Your Future

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation, but did you refuse to submit to a BAC test at any point?

Nope, I fully cooperated and submitted to the BAC test. I went and talked to my attorney today and from what I am gathering from him, the state of Kansas has changed the laws around so that even though I was found guilty, it is not an option to have this removed from my MVR at any point in my life. So therefore, this "not guilty" verdict has and will be treated as a DUI anyway. I have been turned down by 18 trucking companies thus far. The only 2 that haven't denied me because of the DUI was TransAm and Werner. The only reason I can't get on with them right now is one I am still in school and two my school is not acceptable to their standards. At this point in time, I am kind of tired of rejections and am thinking about just living with my current situation for the time being. I am already 3 years and 4 months since my charge happened so really not that much longer until the actual 5 year mark hits that will allow me to have a chance with some of these bigger companies. Yes, it sucks tremendously and I am extremely let down, not so much by the companies more so with myself for making such a dumb decision 3 years and 4 months ago. However, at the same time, there is a truck out there with my name on it, I just have to keep searching. I am a very persistent person and I will find a company that will take me. It may be a smaller company but anything is better than nothing at this point.

Have you checked with Western Express, or CR England? .... USA truck has been known to work with people too.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation, but did you refuse to submit to a BAC test at any point?

Nope, I fully cooperated and submitted to the BAC test. I went and talked to my attorney today and from what I am gathering from him, the state of Kansas has changed the laws around so that even though I was found guilty, it is not an option to have this removed from my MVR at any point in my life. So therefore, this "not guilty" verdict has and will be treated as a DUI anyway. I have been turned down by 18 trucking companies thus far. The only 2 that haven't denied me because of the DUI was TransAm and Werner. The only reason I can't get on with them right now is one I am still in school and two my school is not acceptable to their standards. At this point in time, I am kind of tired of rejections and am thinking about just living with my current situation for the time being. I am already 3 years and 4 months since my charge happened so really not that much longer until the actual 5 year mark hits that will allow me to have a chance with some of these bigger companies. Yes, it sucks tremendously and I am extremely let down, not so much by the companies more so with myself for making such a dumb decision 3 years and 4 months ago. However, at the same time, there is a truck out there with my name on it, I just have to keep searching. I am a very persistent person and I will find a company that will take me. It may be a smaller company but anything is better than nothing at this point.

Have you checked with Western Express, or CR England? .... USA truck has been known to work with people too.

I did check with USA truck and they have a 7 year waiting period on their DUI policy. CR England I haven't yet and I was going to call Western Express today but just never got around to it so it is on the list though.

Don't give up! Don't even consider it. Believe me, most people struggle getting their trucking career underway for one reason or another. Some have trouble learning to handle the rig or learning the written regulations. Some have health problems they have to get cleared up. Others run into problems with their backgrounds. There are so many things that can hold up the process and everything has to be just right for things to work out. So it's common for people to get rejected by a lot of companies and sometimes even get sent home from an orientation or two before they finally get something to work out.

In fact one of our Moderators, 'Old School', had about the toughest time I've ever seen someone have trying to get things going. He was sent home from a couple of places and had medical issues to get resolved and all kinds of stuff. Took him a while to get everything cleared up but he stayed the course and he's had an amazing career these past few years. And you know, even after getting all of that cleared up he finally gets out on the road and anyone would hope the worst was behind them at that point but then he winds up with this crazy nightmare of a trainer! I mean, Old School just couldn't catch a break but that certainly didn't stop him.

So hang in there! Just keep pushing forward. You know now that it won't come easy and it doesn't come easy for most people so don't sweat it.

You can also Apply For Truck Driving Jobs With One Application right here on our site if you'd like to rifle off an application to a bunch of companies all at once. I mean, why not, right?

Call celadon trucking, they have taken people with a 3 year old felony I've personally met 2 people in the last week. Give them a call.

Try Mabe. There's a guy from my class with a 3 year old DUI and a few 5 year old felonies and he just got on with them. No one else would even look at him (except Carolina Cargo). Pay is average; you run solo, etc.

DUI , is a big thing for the INSURANCE COMPANIES. And most of the companies that hire new drivers, are a much higher risk group BECAUSE they hire new drivers (and new drivers happen to hit a lot more stuff than experienced ones). So even the notion of a recent DUI (regardless of a conviction) , is going to cause them to "shy off", versus the large pool of applicants with no DUI's.

Now - not judging here Cory, but I assume if you blew and it was bad enough to warrant an arrest - this might be what they are looking at. And we probably don't need to analyze the gory details here (like whether you blew over the limit, and got off on a technicality). I have a buddy in Oregon that caught a DUI - completed a court mandated intervention and got the case dismissed. Still shows a DUI on his record.

Keep in mind people, any time you "donate fingerprints" to law enforcement, a copy ends up on the FIB's NCIC database and will show up in a background as an arrest (even if it's dismissed or otherwise disposed of).

I ran into this issue with US Customs doing a F.A.S.T. card interview. Have a 28 year old felony, was dismissed and sealed - but all they saw was the ARREST on NCIC. They insisted on seeing the disposition/court papers for the arrest. Well that was ages ago, 4 states and 6 homes later. No, I can't find the papers, nor can the court find the case to get into it (not in the computer, BECAUSE it was dismissed and sealed). Guess I'm not getting a F.A.S.T. card (even though Canada was Ok with my explanation, and I've been in and out a number of times over the years).

As Brett mentioned - keep your head up - move forward - keep applying, and hopefully, you will find a company willing to hear you out (regarding the dismissal).

Best of luck - keep us posted...

Rick

I really appreciate everyone's words of encouragement! It really means a lot! I'm going to keep moving forward and keep pushing to find that job. I'm still currently waiting to hear back from Keim TS, I have been working with them and they seem to think they might be able to get something worked our fingers crossed. If not there will be other options down the road. I'm definetly not going to give up. This entire process has been a big learning experience regarding the DUI. I can't express enough how much it can change and or effect your life. I will keep everyone informed on how this situation goes. Brett, thank you for your words and advice as well as creating this website to help everyone out!