Am I employable??

[Dinoracer]

In my stupid youth, I have had several tickets for driving on a suspended license and one for possesion of less than one ounce of pot. All of these are over 17 years old and might be 20 years old. I am trying to get into a company that offers training but so far no calls back. In each of the applications that I have sent in, if it asks about previous offenses I answer them. I do believe in being honest instead of finding out later that I have been fired for lying on my application. I have run my H6 and it's clear with no accidents, tickets or anything. The last ticket I recieved was in 1993 for speeding.
My goal was to go OTR for 7 years while I rent my house out, then buy a house someplace in the Sierra's and relax for a few years. Am I going abut this the wrong way? I do not feel I should lie just to get a job. I have a job now and am just tired of it. Just where do they get the background checks and is it possible to get my own background check done just to see what is on it?

Thanks

[all18wheels]

i had problems 10-12 years ago for driving on suspened FTA speeding no license, no insurance, Etc,etc.

my H6 is clean and i leave it be. thats old news.
now i never got busted for pot, so i cant help you there.

seems like 15-20 year old minor offenses wouldnt stop you from getting a job now.

is there anything else you can think of?

[AlexJ81]

Maybe you should just pick up the phone and call the companies that you've applied to. The only thing you're going to get here is opinions and speculation.

[ben45750]

I would spend a couple bucks and hire someone to do a background check on you (as the company's do). If everything you talked about is on your record, tell them about it. If nothing is on your record you might be telling these trucking company's too much information because they would have never found it if you never told them about it. Most investigative company's that are used usually only go back 7 years because of cost.

BOL

[ben45750]

also though.....................

Say you get in a accident and it's not even your fault, your record is going to be looked at very closely because of possible litigation. Your company will spend a lot of money to cover their asses and if they find something you didn't tell them your going to be on your own.

[Sheepdancer]

If the pot possession charge was a misdemeaner, it shouldnt be much of a problem. There would still be a lot of companies that would hire you.
If it was a felony, that will be a major problem in this industry.

[Cluggy619]

Your not going to have a problem. If one company refuses you, go to the next. You don't need to tell them about the suspended licence, it happen too long ago. And the pot thing is way in the past....their are alot of drivers who have got that, and are still driving.

Keep it clean, don't use the stuff, and have a good time on the road.

Good luck.