Old DUI's Am I S.O.L For Becoming A Truck Driver?
Topic 8848 | Page 1
I consider myself an old man and one of your DUI's happened in the year I was born. So I'm going to label your DUI's as 'very old' just like me.
I think you have a good chance. Your work history is stellar and those mistakes happened a very long time ago.
Here's what you need to do. Apply For Truck Driving Jobs and talk to recruiters. With that link you can do 1 application and send it to every company! It saves tons of time. Be completely honest about your past and include it in your application. Don't hide nothing because they will find out the truth. There's a ton of companies out there that need drivers and I'm positive someone will give you a shot. But you'll never know without taking the plunge and putting your name out there.
Trucking Company Policies For Drivers With DUI-DWI
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
DWI:
Driving While Intoxicated
Matt, welcome aboard!
I agree with Daniel. There's going to be a few companies that won't touch you, don't let that bother you, just keep plugging away at it. Try to get yourself some pre-hire letters before committing to a truck driving school. You can read through our section on Understanding Pre-Hires to get an idea of what I'm talking about. I even think you may be able to get into a Company-Sponsored Training program with those DUI's being so old. Take a read through our Truck Driver's Career Guide and follow the links in there and you will gain some very useful insight into making the transition into this new career.
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.
Pre-hire:
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.
Pre-hires:
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
I consider myself an old man and one of your DUI's happened in the year I was born. So I'm going to label your DUI's as 'very old' just like me.
I think you have a good chance. Your work history is stellar and those mistakes happened a very long time ago.
Here's what you need to do. Apply For Truck Driving Jobs and talk to recruiters. With that link you can do 1 application and send it to every company! It saves tons of time. Be completely honest about your past and include it in your application. Don't hide nothing because they will find out the truth. There's a ton of companies out there that need drivers and I'm positive someone will give you a shot. But you'll never know without taking the plunge and putting your name out there.
Trucking Company Policies For Drivers With DUI-DWI
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
DWI:
Driving While Intoxicated
Matt, welcome aboard!
I agree with Daniel. There's going to be a few companies that won't touch you, don't let that bother you, just keep plugging away at it. Try to get yourself some pre-hire letters before committing to a truck driving school. You can read through our section on Understanding Pre-Hires to get an idea of what I'm talking about. I even think you may be able to get into a Company-Sponsored Training program with those DUI's being so old. Take a read through our Truck Driver's Career Guide and follow the links in there and you will gain some very useful insight into making the transition into this new career.
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.
Pre-hire:
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.
Pre-hires:
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.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
Thanks Old School and Daniel for your reply's I'm encouraged by your answer's. On a side note I just registered last night but have been reading this site for a few weeks now and Daniel your bike riding link is AWESOME some great pictures. As a follow up, I would love to be totally honest about my past with future employers but do you think for insurance purposes I'd be better off trying to get my minor record sealed or just see if I could have my adult record expunged and then not even mention it? Thanks again. However the path takes me I'm excited and look forward to the journey. Also this is a busy time for my current job so I'm going to wait a few months and save some more money before making the switch so that will be one less stress. With that being said should I wait to apply and just talk to recruiters now or maybe even wait 'til later to speak with them too?
Actually, I think your records as a minor are already sealed. I could be wrong, but I think when folks are checking they will only find one DUI.
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
I'm pretty sure that in California at least you have to pay to have that done.
My Experience with OLD DUI
Hey Y'all, In California had a Felony DUI charged and sentenced in 1991/1992. And a misdemeanor brandishing a firearm in 1990 as well as a disorderly conduct in 2003 in Arizona. After 28 years, I sought to get the Felony DUI reduced and dismissed and to have full restoration of my 2nd Amendment. I contacted the prosecutor "DA" who was retired. He and I had a good conversation. Back in 1992 he came to the bench and said that Mark, we are both Marines. He suggested that I get into archery. Later it came out that his case had holes in it and that if I took it to trial, there was a good chance of beating the charge of Felony and being sentenced to with a misdemeanor. I told the DA that I served my time, I completed probation with no violations, I paid my dues to society. I want this off my record. He gave me the names of 3 attorneys. The one he strongly suggested I went with. This attorney had the Felony charges reduced to misdemeanors. Then the conviction overturned from Guilty to Not Guilty. And the judge ordered a Full Dismissal. In 2018 I received full restoration of my 2nd Amendment. And I Cherish IT! In 2020 I was able to obtain my LTC from Texas DPS. And that was no easy feat!
On the criminal background the question states: Have You Ever Been Convicted Of A Felony. Have You Ever Had Your License Suspended. I answered YES. Then wrote I have a Full Dismissal and Sentence Over Turned and supplied the court documents to the recruiter. The License suspension was due to the Felony DUI and it was for 3 years and my Drivers License was reinstated in 1995.
In 2019 I applied for a Government Contractor Position with ICE / DHS. I supplied all the documents to OPM. They had a background investigator and a honcho at OPM crawling all over my past. Honesty pays off! and they confirmed all the documents that I supplied. I've been working at the ICE Detention Center since as an Officer watching over Illegals.
I have not been in trouble since Peeing in a bush at a boat dock in Lake Havasu!
Scared Straight! You Betchya!
As in stated by a fellow user above, it is harder to get a job with a background. It requires ACTION. And the user also stated some companies won't touch you. That is True. 2 out of the 5 companies have said they have strict guidelines and would not consider my application even though the Felony DWI was fully dismissed. So Just Keep On Trucking! No pun intended LOL There are plenty of good companies that will give you a chance. And when you do get hired, Ride For The Brand! with gratitude...
Thank You For Letting Me Share This,
Stay Blessed Y'all, Mark R. TEXAS
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.DUI:
Driving Under the Influence
DWI:
Driving While Intoxicated
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Background Checks Becoming A Truck Driver Choosing A Trucking Company Drivers Past Legal Issues Driving Record Issues DUI
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Love this site btw, So I have two dui's my first was as a 17 year old minor in 1991 (so 24 years ago) and the other was in 1998 (17 years ago). Since then my driver and criminal records are clean. I also have a very stable work record, 5 jobs in the last 20 years and 7 and a half at my current one. I have always been interested in becoming a truck driver but my dui's kept me from really considering it. However with all the time that's past and being 41 and ready for a change I thought I would look into it more. I've seen in my research so far that it may be possible but also that no company insurance will touch two dui's. So I ask in your opinions am I just S.O.L. or do you think it's a dream I still got a shot at?
DUI:
Driving Under the Influence