Getting CDL With 4 Duis? Worth It?

My DUIs were real old. They came out with them federal guidelines in 2005 I think. 3 of the 4 were before that, and I think I am ok because they were so old. Lifetime in MI is ten years I think. But yeah my gears are turning now. I am starting to wonder if I am indeed eligible. The folks at the truck driving school said I was but yeah maybe I need to back up a bit and see. I don't want to chase after something I am not allowed to do anyway. Thanks for the info.

Im no lawyer or anything. I was under the impression that CDL may be issued by individual states. The cdl is also federally regulated.

I was under the impression that federally two dui charges gets you lifetime disqualification from CDL. Let alone 4 charges. Contact an attorney and see if they have a solution.

Thank you for the encouragement. I really want to drive truck but gee there is a lot going against me in this business, and rightfully so. Believe me, i get it. I do. Now I'm questioning if I'm even eligible to get a cdl based on FMCSA disqualifications for multiple duis. Thought i had that cleared up with the driving school. I researched it and it sounds like I am because the DUIs were so old and it's been 12 years since the last, but it is unclear. I reap what ive sown. I'm really not trying to whine but I want to do this so bad but there are so many hoops to go through and I am very limited on who I can work for. Perhaps even if I don't do this this year I could down the road long as the self driving trucks haven't taken over. I can get a 30k a year job just fine but 60k jobs my background nips me on the butt. I did get 0n the apprentice pipefitter list just gotta wait for the call could be a year anyway. Good money, but not steady work, and there are elements of that biz I don't think I'll like, but hey a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do I wanna drive truck so bad, but am wondering if i need to slow down and put it on the backburner for now. I am holding back but if things gotta a little more favorable with the job offers and the state says it's a go I might do this. I gotta quit my job to go to a 4 week school and got enough cash barely to get through the transition and got paperwork for a grant to cover tuition (If I even get it as I need it) so yeah the ball is rolling but like I say it's a hard decision to make as I'm more limited on driving jobs than 90 percent of yall. Found myself discouraged.

Bryan...congrats on your sobriety. Well done. I applaud your desire now to better your income for your family. I think it’s great that there’s an outfit that will give you an opportunity. You’ll need to decide how much sacrifice your willing to go through to reach your ultimate goal...which is a better life for you and your family. Four hours is a heck of a commute. Do you own or rent? Is relocating the family closer to the job an option? Just some thoughts.

Best of luck and keep up the good work

Like I said before it is in your best interest to consult a good attorney. Maybe even one that specializes in CDL drivers. According to the Federal Motor carrier safety regulations you should be disqualified for life with 4 DUI charges. Another thing to take into account that has not been mentioned up to this point is if you had to go into Canada according to what I have read even one DUI can get you turned around at the border denied access.

It is definitely in your best interest to seek legal counsel prior to committing to a school for training that may teach you how to drive a truck but not get you a valid CDL at all. On the other hand you most likely can get trucking jobs driving box trucks registered under 26,000 lbs.

Congrats on your sobriety though I used to drink a lot myself but quit drinking about 24 years ago myself. I can tell you it was one of the best decisions I made in my lifetime.

Please don't take my posting as being mean or anything personally. I admire you for trying to do whatever you can for your family. I am just think you should look at all the possibilities and with proper legal help you may be able to follow your dreams of trucking. It will at a minimum be a very hard road for you. Good Luck.

It was my understanding that the FMCSA limit on DUI s was for CDL holders, but what do I know.. oh where is Rickipedia when we need him lol.

Congrats on your sobriety. What I'd also suggest is to call every company that you can think of that will hire with DUIs and be completely honest with them and ask about the possibility of driving for them.. worst they can say is "no" and eventually you may get a few yes.

I really do wish you the best. Keep us posted on how it's going. Your information may be helpful to others.

oh where is Rickipedia when we need him lol

I have been wonderin this myself. Rick if you are seein this, we miss ya on here. If you can find the time, come back here and give us an update on how you are doin. We miss ya.

Susan, After reading your response you had me questioning myself yet again as to what is a disqualifying event. I found a couple websites that indicate that two or more DUI 's in any type of motor vehicle (Commercial or personal) comes with a lifetime CDL disqualification.

Please review the responses on this website.

AVVO

DMV.org CDL federal requirements

That is not to say that it is not possible for him to fall through a crack and get one issued but even if that happened would an insurance company honor an accident claim if god forbid he has one. And like pointed out how many companies will be able to get him insured properly.

That is precisely why I suggested he seek legal help.

Hey Bryan, found this info on this very site. Hope it helps.

https://www.truckingtruth.com/wiki/topic-55/trucking-company-policies-on-drivers-with-dui-dwi

Sorry forgot to submit the link. Never stop trying until there’s no doors left to open. If you’re meant to do something, the way in will always present itself. I was told by a recruiter of my preferred company to train with that I didn’t qualify. I got qualified by 3 others. Something to me to try my first choice again & guess what? This new recruiter that I dealt with went through my application with me & said she didn’t understand why the other recruiter said what they said cause she said I was cleared to train with them.

Good luck sir.

I haven't taken anything you said in a wrong way. I appreciate your help. I will check into this further. I'll have to drop everything to get into trucking so I'll need to investigate this issue further. Thank you for your help.

I am pursuing a career transition (more money) and did get accepted on the union pipefitter apprentice list and gotta wait to get called, could be six months or a year. The money will be great by the time I am a journeyman but there are aspects of the job I do not like (and yes I'm a worker) and the work is not steady so we'd be struggling a few years. So at the very minimum I have a backup plan. But the freedom of the open road boy o boy I got so excited when I looked Into the truck driving. This excites me. Pipefitting does not (but hey it could turn out to be a good thing)

Going on 40 with a family trying to do a career transition. I'm looking into various things but my background don't help but driving truck is the only thing that got me real excited, so we will see. Now I gotta see if it's even an option. If it's not then I will put my focus on the other careers. Oh well.

Like I said before it is in your best interest to consult a good attorney. Maybe even one that specializes in CDL drivers. According to the Federal Motor carrier safety regulations you should be disqualified for life with 4 DUI charges. Another thing to take into account that has not been mentioned up to this point is if you had to go into Canada according to what I have read even one DUI can get you turned around at the border denied access.

It is definitely in your best interest to seek legal counsel prior to committing to a school for training that may teach you how to drive a truck but not get you a valid CDL at all. On the other hand you most likely can get trucking jobs driving box trucks registered under 26,000 lbs.

Congrats on your sobriety though I used to drink a lot myself but quit drinking about 24 years ago myself. I can tell you it was one of the best decisions I made in my lifetime.

Please don't take my posting as being mean or anything personally. I admire you for trying to do whatever you can for your family. I am just think you should look at all the possibilities and with proper legal help you may be able to follow your dreams of trucking. It will at a minimum be a very hard road for you. Good Luck.

That is what I was thinking but upon researching it I read it both ways. Even lawyers online interpret it both ways. I hope you are correct.

It was my understanding that the FMCSA limit on DUI s was for CDL holders, but what do I know.. oh where is Rickipedia when we need him lol.

Congrats on your sobriety. What I'd also suggest is to call every company that you can think of that will hire with DUIs and be completely honest with them and ask about the possibility of driving for them.. worst they can say is "no" and eventually you may get a few yes.

I really do wish you the best. Keep us posted on how it's going. Your information may be helpful to others.