MVR Record: License Suspended Twice For Underage Drinking While Not Operating A Vehicle

Hello,

I've just received my PA Class A CDL Learner's Permit and I will be getting all of the endorsements added in two weeks before I attend a private driving school.

Unfortunately, I have a juvenile record from almost ten years ago which is expunged however, the two underage's I received are on my ten year MVR report which were almost a decade ago. In PA before 2018, a minor would have their license suspended for 30-90 days the first offense and one year on the second offense. In 2011 when I was 17, I received a 60 day suspension on my a Class C drivers license before I even had one for being caught by the police for drinking. PA at the time had very strict laws regarding minors and drinking so I had a license suspension before I was even able to get a class c license.

My second underage drinking offense without driving was when I was 18 in 2012 and I had my license suspended for one year. These underage charges are not considered a misdemeanor or a felony.

I'm almost 27 now and the two violations I've had on my record in the last 5 years are is 10 mph over the limit in 2017 and for not fully stopping at a stop sign (rolling stop) last February.

I'm not proud of any of this and I own up to all of these mistakes. How badly will this affect me when it comes to getting my first job? Any information or advise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I do a lot of research when I get into something big, and this career tops them all, so I've learned a lot since I got my CDL in the fall and have been looking for a "right" company myself. The 2017 thing is not as big a deal since there are companies that only look back 3 years. A rolling stop conviction less than a year ago is a lot tougher an obstacle to get past... Others here will hopefully know more about your options, if any (besides waiting a while), as I've seen in similar posts to yours. I have heard of one company via these posts; haven't really looked into that one myself, but you should shortly see what others have to say.

Hello,

I've just received my PA Class A CDL Learner's Permit and I will be getting all of the endorsements added in two weeks before I attend a private driving school.

Unfortunately, I have a juvenile record from almost ten years ago which is expunged however, the two underage's I received are on my ten year MVR report which were almost a decade ago. In PA before 2018, a minor would have their license suspended for 30-90 days the first offense and one year on the second offense. In 2011 when I was 17, I received a 60 day suspension on my a Class C drivers license before I even had one for being caught by the police for drinking. PA at the time had very strict laws regarding minors and drinking so I had a license suspension before I was even able to get a class c license.

My second underage drinking offense without driving was when I was 18 in 2012 and I had my license suspended for one year. These underage charges are not considered a misdemeanor or a felony.

I'm almost 27 now and the two violations I've had on my record in the last 5 years are is 10 mph over the limit in 2017 and for not fully stopping at a stop sign (rolling stop) last February.

I'm not proud of any of this and I own up to all of these mistakes. How badly will this affect me when it comes to getting my first job? Any information or advise will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Howdy Mitch, and welcome to Trucking Truth!

Your situation, although not 'awful, ' is one of MANY as to why we recommend company paid/sponsored training. If the companies accept you into their school/training, it's at least a 'conditional' hire, providing you pass their course! Then, JOB IN HAND.. accordingly.

Have you seen our links? Yours could possibly be a waste of money with background issues, in the pecking order of 'who' gets hired, and whom not. . . Look here:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

I'll let the veterans chime in as to the history ... I've not a clue, sorry. I'm just of the IMHO that with CDLP in hand, you'd be better off to go THIS route:

Paid CDL Training Programs

Apply For Paid CDL Training

It's like having a 'golden ticket' in Willy Wonka. You get to 'attend.' Sure, you can still mess THAT up, but ... that's on YOU at that point, lol!

Hubby's been driving 20plus years.. and the pickin's nowadays are different than when he started.

Wish you the best~!!

~ Anne ~

This may affect you a lot on getting hired.

Yours is a great example of why we highly recommend attending company sponsored training. So you go through private schooling, then cannot get the job driving you want? With company training, you would be hired with much less risk and stress

I do a lot of research when I get into something big, and this career tops them all, so I've learned a lot since I got my CDL in the fall and have been looking for a "right" company myself. The 2017 thing is not as big a deal since there are companies that only look back 3 years. A rolling stop conviction less than a year ago is a lot tougher an obstacle to get past... Others here will hopefully know more about your options, if any (besides waiting a while), as I've seen in similar posts to yours. I have heard of one company via these posts; haven't really looked into that one myself, but you should shortly see what others have to say.

Hahaha... it takes some awhile, J.D. ...true! I'm usually one to show up, lest I'm seeing that YOU already HAD~! Most of the others, the drivers, well ... are ... DRIVING, lol~! Appreciate you, man. I do... and I'm just ME~!

This may affect you a lot on getting hired.

Yours is a great example of why we highly recommend attending company sponsored training. So you go through private schooling, then cannot get the job driving you want? With company training, you would be hired with much less risk and stress

Agree with this - on a couple of levels.

Suspensions over a decade old, for non-driving-related offenses probably won't hurt TOO MUCH - once you explain them. If these were ACTUAL DUI's, they really become problematic. And the fact that they are over a decade old, while you were a minor (and now, we're MATURE ADULTS - RIGHT?) also probably weighs in your favor.

PA IS REALLY SCREWED UP. What they have is called "summary offense", and they tell you "it's less than a misdemeanor" and "not to worry about it - it's like a ticket for spitting on the sidewalk".

BS - they show up on BACKGROUND CHECKS (ask me how I know - WAIT - DON'T ASK ME). It's a crock of crap the way "the commonwealth" operates.

At any rate...

A trucking school (private) REALLY DOESN'T CARE if you can get a job driving with your background. THEIR ONLY TASK IS TO GET YOU A CDL. Pretty much ANYONE CAN GET A CDL (that isn't disqualified under the regs) - but NOT EVERYONE CAN GET A HIRE.

Applying and training with a COMPANY - assuming they accept your, you get through orientation and get your CDL - IS A JOB. YOU ARE ALREADY HIRED.

Don't LIE about the suspensions - but BE PREPARED TO EXPLAIN THEM. And EMPHASIZE that they were NOT DRIVING RELATED, but a penalty for non-driving related offenses.

APPLY APPLY APPLY.

And please come back and let us know how you did. It's getting FOLLOW UP INFORMATION on "strange cases" like this - that helps us advise other people down the road.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU...

Rick

Missed the "rolling stop conviction". This isn't a kiss of death - depending on HOW CLEAN the rest of your driving record is.

A hint that I tell everyone: FIGHT EVERY TICKET. It's with the $100 (or whatever a ticket attorney charges) for a shot at BEATING THE TICKET. Cop no-shows - case dismissed. Another pro-tip: motorcycle cops (and most troopers) ALWAYS SHOW - it's their job to write tickets and go to court (revenue stream).

But it still doesn't hurt to fight the ticket - EVERY TIME.

Rick

Hi Mitch - I was in the exact same boat. I had two underage alcohol possession tickets that resulted in 60 day suspensions, though the offenses were not vehicular in nature (I was 19 and 20 years old, respectively).

However, these offenses were 18 years old, and I’ve only had one speeding ticket since. My record is otherwise squeaky clean.

Currently, I’m in my second day of company sponsored training at Wilson Logistics, which is very selective and has a strict safety reputation. I had no problems. If they were ten years old, I’d imagine you’re fine, but Packrat is right — you’re much better off going with a company sponsored training program, because at least you know you already meet their minimum requirements for hiring. If you go private, you’re taking a risk.

Mitch A, with your driving citation history, I believe you are taking a chance with going to a private school to get your CDL. As others stated, the private school will (probably) accept you for training, but will trucking companies hire you afterwards? Why spend thousands of dollars of your money just for companies to tell you "sorry" afterwards? Companies that offer sponsored training is the way to go. If they accept you to their training program and you graduate and obtain your cdl , you will have a job waiting. Then you drive for a set amount of time for them and your tuition costs are reimbursed. Some compaies also give you the option of just paying your tuition if you like with no further work commitment. CFI in Missouri was the best decision I could have made. Training at their Crowder College campus in Neosho was really good, not to mention room and three very good cafeteria meals were included in the tuition, which was thousands of dollars cheaper than private schools here in Ohio.

I agree with the others. With having the suspension on your record, even for a non driving offense is going to make it harder. Then the 2 tickets, while not death sentences for your career is certainly gonna make it a little harder.

I would 150% say go find company sponsored training before you shell out for your cdl. A cdl is useless and expensive if you don't have a company willing to hire you. And while you could go the prehire route its still much safer to have the company hire you and train you themselves.