Layover.com: Reality Check

Reality Check

A number of outstanding questions were sent to me since the last column. Please continue sending questions and I will do my best to answer as many as I can. If I don’t answer your question in the column there is the possibility that a similar one has already been answered in a previous column, so I encourage reviewing the archives when possible. For next month, let me know what your number one concern about the future of trucking is. Thank you for making this column the success that it is.

I have a question about having a felony. Most of the of the jobs that I apply for ask whether you have had any felonies in the last five, and some say, seven years. And when I talk to a recruiter they always say that I am not hirable. Is it just because they don’t understand their own policy or that they personally don’t want to see any felonies hired? My felony is just over eight years, and I haven’t done anything to break the law nor will I ever again.

The honest answer is that you are going to have a very difficult time finding employment with any of the major carriers in the trucking industry. This does not mean, however, that you cannot find a job. It will just be a challenge and you might need to “settle” for a lesser-known carrier or a “mom and pop” operation for a while.

You will hear most recruiters offer the reason for this as being that you cannot travel into Canada. Well, that is true, but there are also things you can do through the Canadian Minister’s Office to rectify that situation. Even if you are able to secure a Minister’s Permit the carrier still might be unwilling to hire you. However, without that permit, you will be hard pressed to find a position with any carrier that runs into Canada.

Other recruiters might mention increased liability and, as a result, a prohibition placed upon the carrier by its insurance company. This is generally a valid excuse—but not always.

The hard reality of the situation is that the trucking industry continues to “punish” those who have felonies by not hiring them, regardless of what they have done to turn their lives around and become a valuable member of society.

I am 21 years old and am having a difficult time finding any truck driving positions. Unfortunately I have two misdemeanors for possession of paraphernalia and being in the presence of an illegal substance. Before I started truck driving school, I was assured by the recruiter that I should be able to find a job, that he has had others with records a lot worse get a job. The bottom line is, I am in debt $6,000 and have had my CDL for two months and am still unemployed. Is there any chance that anyone out there will give a guy a chance?

The very honest answer here is that you will not be able to find a job as a truck driver with any of the major or semi-major carriers in the industry. You may—though I doubt it—have some luck finding a position with an owner-operator or a small company.

Truck driving is a very professional position that necessarily needs to be an occupation void of any illegal drugs and, quite frankly, some legally prescribed drugs. Alcohol- or drug-related convictions are generally and necessarily a huge red flag for recruiters and carriers.

Unfortunately, some schools and school recruiters neglect to mention this—though most will be up front and honest about it.

I'm a recent Sage Driving School graduate living in Havasu Lake, California, and would like to find a somewhat local company that trucks from the Mexico border region up into the western states and back. I'm looking for a company where I can work a regular type of route, and/or destination five days on and two days off. This is my second career and hoping to find a good company that will work with a new driver.

As a recent graduate, I think it is important to understand that, as with any profession, you will need to gain experience and knowledge and tenure before you will find the “perfect” job, routes, and schedules. I will always recommend finding a company that has the type of route and schedule you desire and then hire on with them.

The fact of the matter is, however, that you will most likely need to put in the time and effort to earn the “cream of the crop” routes and schedules. Let me know if you find another way to do it!

Drivers' Corner - Ask the Recruiter

Reality Check