Petit Theft Charge Will I Still Get Hired?

Hi I am new and in driving school. I have a Petty theft charge from years ago that has come back to haunt me. It is in a different state than I live in now, it does not show up on my record or background check from school. I found out about it because my family rents that old house to friends and they attempted to serve me again at that address. Can I still get hired with this pending charge? I have someone looking into this for me, my cousin is an attorney. He says these things can take months to go through the system. I am not sure if I should drop out of school until this is resolved. I am interested in advice from experienced drivers and those with legal knowledge.

Welcome to the forum.

The short answer? Without knowing much more about it, you need to get this resolved before applying to any company. Regardless if you actually did this or not, sounds like you took flight to evade the possibility of arrest and legal process...is that what happened? Regardless, if you do not disclose it, they will find it and likely DQ your application for dishonesty.

Realize that it's likely you will be competing with and compared to applicants that have a clean record void of legal complications. Trucking companies are risk averse, and will almost always take the path that aligns with that strategy. Right now, you are a risk.

Please give us more details and possibly the mind-share available on this forum will come-up with something better.

Good luck.

Hi Again Evidently this is from a Sporting goods store back home in Texas. It shows the amount is $70 and it is from 12 years ago. I have racked my brain and do not remember anything like this occurring but they have my old tag number and old address. My cousin (the attorney) said there has never been a warrant for my arrest. The first court date is now October 10, 2019 which my cousin can appear on my behalf. My cousin says it may be February or March before it is resolved and more than likely will be dismissed. I quit my other job already and need to work. I can not just sit back and wait for this to clear up.

Welcome to the forum.

The short answer? Without knowing much more about it, you need to get this resolved before applying to any company. Regardless if you actually did this or not, sounds like you took flight to evade the possibility of arrest and legal process...is that what happened? Regardless, if you do not disclose it, they will find it and likely DQ your application for dishonesty.

Realize that it's likely you will be competing with and compared to applicants that have a clean record void of legal complications. Trucking companies are risk averse, and will almost always take the path that aligns with that strategy. Right now, you are a risk.

Please give us more details and possibly the mind-share available on this forum will come-up with something better.

Good luck.

Hi I had another post I posted in the wrong place I think. Anyway, The incident is from 12 years ago in a sporting goods store. I do not remember the incident - honestly. They have my old tag number form my car and evidently my old address. No idea why it has taken this long to surface. My court date is October 10, 2019 and my cousin (the attorney) can appear on my behalf. I already quit my other job and can not afford to sit around waiting for this to finish up, which could be March or April, according to my cousin. So are you advising me to drop out of school until this is resolved? None of the back ground checks the school ran had it on there. Very frustrated.

I'm assuming a charge is similar to a moving violation in that it won't show up until a conviction. I may be wrong about that.

As for jobs, they're going to ask about it and it's best to be honest because there are no guarantees in when/how this is going to play out. I would just call trucking companies, explain the situation and see what they say.

What G-Town says is correct. Trucking companies aren't desperate to fill seats because of a driver shortage. They're very selective and do their research. What your school did and what a company will do are very different.

For example when I applied for TMC they reached out to all of my previous employers. The ones that didn't respond, I had to submit copies of my W-2. They turned me down and they wouldn't tell me why.

They emailed me my entire background report. It had 10 year old addresses on it. It was a dull biography of my life. That's the kind of researching they're doing.

Admiral Blackbeard,

I am somewhat suspicious of your post, because your location is shown on a golf course and that golf course is not in Montgomery, Alabama. An infamous troll to this forum has been located on golf courses under his various screen names. Also, one would think that someone sincere about being in CDL school with a magically appearing petit theft charge, would not post to a forum under the name of "Admiral Blackbeard" with a photo from a cruise ship.

If your case is genuine, my apologies, but you might understand my suspicion.

I have racked my brain and do not remember anything like this occurring

That also makes no sense. If you stole from a sporting goods store, you would know it. If you didn't steal from a sporting goods store, you would know it. No one will buy the "I can't remember that" defense with regard to committing a crime.

Troll

...But Officer...this basketball just happened to bounce into the open window of my car as I was driving by...

Todd V 7.0

Wow is he back? I hope not. If you are genuinely serious about this, then get it taken of before going any further. Remember, the front of this forum is TRUCKING TRUTH, NOT SCAM FOR A DAY! Brett started this forum to help people coming into this field with the truth and only the truth. If you are a scammer then delete this forum from your phone.

Raptor