Question About Getting Hired With A Record...

[BrokenBox]

When i was 19 i got busted for possession of pot and im now thinking of getting into some OTR work the charge wasnt a felony so i was wondering what from peoples expirences my chances are of getting hired with this on my record are???

I never spent a day in jail i just had a fine some community service that was it also the incident was over 5 years ago now and i haven't been in trouble since besides a speeding ticket or something i've passed several DOT DRUG TESTS all passed with flying colors but when that DAC comes back they said i was outta luck but this was right after the arrest now 5 years later im wondering if this might look better showing i have stayed outta trouble

Also do those Drug tests stay on the DAC so people look and see i have passed every drug test ive been given??

[inmate1577]

I'd say your chances are better than those who say, got bustd a year ago. Most trucking companies want a clean record of 5 or more years and no felony convictions.

If you have kept your nose clean for 5 years, I'd say try to apply and see what happens. But dont be suprised if you are turned down, but dont give up.
Luck.

[just_froggy]

Also do those Drug tests stay on the DAC so people look and see i have passed every drug test ive been given??

They'll know. If you are using anything, please find another line of work.

[BrokenBox]

Also do those Drug tests stay on the DAC so people look and see i have passed every drug test ive been given??

They'll know. If you are using anything, please find another line of work.

Well since ive never failed a drug test i dont have anything to worry about

[continental]

You've passed the drug test with "Flying colors"?
How did you do that? I thought you either pass or fail.
There is nothing in between.

[BrokenBox]

You've passed the drug test with "Flying colors"?
How did you do that? I thought you either pass or fail.
There is nothing in between.

Test was negative off any and all illegal substances

[boneebone]

IMO I think you will be ok. If you are clean and stay clean. Do you have a good work history since your arrest, and do you have a CDL? Call some OTR Recruiters and see what they say. If this is what you want to do than don't give up, people make mistakes in life, but if you have shown to society and yourself that you have redeemed yourself than a second chance is not impossible. Good Luck.

[BrokenBox]

IMO I think you will be ok. If you are clean and stay clean. Do you have a good work history since your arrest, and do you have a CDL? Call some OTR Recruiters and see what they say. If this is what you want to do than don't give up, people make mistakes in life, but if you have shown to society and yourself that you have redeemed yourself than a second chance is not impossible. Good Luck.

yes ive got a good work history i do have a Class A W/HazMat.....

Thanks any recruiters on these boards care to weigh in on this i need as much feedback as possible

[Skywalker]

Did you or have you renewed your CDL with Haxmat since they started with the background check/fingerprints? If so and you got your TSA Letter and kept your Hazmat, that should count for something.

Also, one thing that may be a problem. A carrier that goes to Canada may not want to hire you. You can't go there. If you tried and got caught, depending on their moods...you could end up having a real crappy day. So, you may want to focus your efforts on companies that do not require eligibility to go to Canada.

Good Luck!!

[BrokenBox]

Did you or have you renewed your CDL with Haxmat since they started with the background check/fingerprints? If so and you got your TSA Letter and kept your Hazmat, that should count for something.

Also, one thing that may be a problem. A carrier that goes to Canada may not want to hire you. You can't go there. If you tried and got caught, depending on their moods...you could end up having a real crappy day. So, you may want to focus your efforts on companies that do not require eligibility to go to Canada.

Good Luck!!

No net yet.... my License is good for another 4 years so i might have some issues when i goto renew it since i got it before they started the backround checks ..i know the canada thing is a big reason for not getting my foot in the door

thanks for the support

[Sheepdancer]

I couldnt hire ya at JB or any other the other companies we are recruiting for. But that doesnt mean you cant find a job. It will truly limit your choices in this business. But I talk to drivers with felonies that do have jobs, so someone is hiring them. However, beware. A lot of times when I do talk to a felon who has a job driving a truck, they arent making much. I talked to a driver a few months ago who was a felon..the only job he said he could find paid him 18cpm and made him run illegal. Who knows why he was still driving a truck for so little money? go figure.

[BrokenBox]

can someone answer this.??

if i get my record expunged which i think i might be able to will that show up in the DAC??

[GMAN]

As far as I know, DAC only records "Failed" drug tests. They do not log all drug tests given. I believe most information stays on your DAC for about 7 years, much the same as a credit report. Not all carriers subscribe to DAC. Many run criminal background checks. The fact that the charge had to do with drugs is serious, especially in this profession. If you could manage to have the criminal record expunged, you should be able to have that removed from your DAC report, if it is listed. The failed drug test will likely stay with you for a few more years.

[BrokenBox]

As far as I know, DAC only records "Failed" drug tests. They do not log all drug tests given. I believe most information stays on your DAC for about 7 years, much the same as a credit report. Not all carriers subscribe to DAC. Many run criminal background checks. The fact that the charge had to do with drugs is serious, especially in this profession. If you could manage to have the criminal record expunged, you should be able to have that removed from your DAC report, if it is listed. The failed drug test will likely stay with you for a few more years.

yea the drug tests dont worry me ive always passed them i talked to an attorney today about getting my records sealed and they said it would be around 400.00 so i was wondering before i bite the bullet i ask someone who could give me an answer if it will still show up even though its been sealed or expunged

[happyhookin]

I have seen some company applications wich specify that sealed records do not have to be revealed. At your age getting it sealed if you can would be a good idea, you never know what you will be doing several years from now.

[stanman63]

I couldnt hire ya at JB or any other the other companies we are recruiting for. But that doesnt mean you cant find a job. It will truly limit your choices in this business. But I talk to drivers with felonies that do have jobs, so someone is hiring them. However, beware. A lot of times when I do talk to a felon who has a job driving a truck, they arent making much. I talked to a driver a few months ago who was a felon..the only job he said he could find paid him 18cpm and made him run illegal. Who knows why he was still driving a truck for so little money? go figure.

sheepdancer why couldnt you hire him? jb calls me all the time to go to work and i have a drug felony and they know my past

[Sheepdancer]

I couldnt hire ya at JB or any other the other companies we are recruiting for. But that doesnt mean you cant find a job. It will truly limit your choices in this business. But I talk to drivers with felonies that do have jobs, so someone is hiring them. However, beware. A lot of times when I do talk to a felon who has a job driving a truck, they arent making much. I talked to a driver a few months ago who was a felon..the only job he said he could find paid him 18cpm and made him run illegal. Who knows why he was still driving a truck for so little money? go figure.

sheepdancer why couldnt you hire him? jb calls me all the time to go to work and i have a drug felony and they know my past

We might be calling you because you are in the system. However if you ever decided to come over here and we ran your criminal history, you would be disqualfied. Technically the recruiter should send you down to our number removal dept when you tell us you have a drug felony. However, some recruiters dont do what they are supposed to do when it comes to things like that.

[Useless]

Sheepdancer:

Two matters here.

1.) According to the initial post, the possession offense was not a felony; I misread it the first time, too.

2.) I've been out of the driving business for a while now. Would a simple misdemeanor possession charge, with successful completion of probation keep him from getting a haz-mat endorsement??

[Sheepdancer]

yea the drug tests dont worry me ive always passed them i talked to an attorney today about getting my records sealed and they said it would be around 400.00 so i was wondering before i bite the bullet i ask someone who could give me an answer if it will still show up even though its been sealed or expunged

Sometimes the sealed or expunged thing doesnt work. I have a good buddy who got a possession of stolen property felony when he was 18. He had the records sealed many years ago. Recently, he tried to get a cocieled carry permit and was refused because of that sealed conviction.
I have had drivers who have told me they had a charge that was expunged and it still showed. Hell, one time I had a driver who had a pot felony expunged many years ago. Then he actually worked as a cop for 10 years. We still couldnt hire him. Really dont know how that worked out that way. It might have been because he mentioned it, or it possibly still shows up somewhere.

[Sheepdancer]

Sheepdancer:

Two matters here.

1.) According to the initial post, the possession offense was NOT a felony; I misread it the first tome, too.

2.) I've been out of the driving business for a while now. Would a simple misdemeanor possession charge, with successful completion of probation keep him from getting a haz-mat endorsement??

I dont think a misdemeaner would keep him from getting hazmat. However it could keep him from running Canada.
I can "sometimes" work with misdemeaner possession charges. As long as its been at least 5 years since last day of probabtion and everything else is spotless on him.