Criminal record- Speculative comment.

[oldrookie]

Boys and girls hear this. If you have EVER had any sort of FELONY activity involving ANY court action; You are may have a difficult time finding a job.
Nine years ago I left the industry to for another career. The commitment to the HVAC profession proved to be too much. So, why not go back to driving? At least it's easier. Right?
Using this sites trucking companies comp list I have aplied to those that had limited felony time restrictions. ( note: I had to choose those that offered training as my experience is not receint ) Example: 'no felony in last 10 tears' Well the actual applications asks 'have you EVER had a conviction'. I had 2 felony court actions FORTY years ago!!! Probation before verdict on both counts.
It does not matter now. ANY impropriety on you record and you are unemployable.
None of the companies have told me this was the reason for their turn down. This is speculation. I hope I am totally off base about this.
Good luck.

[Ridge Runner]

This is just MHO but I think there must be something else there. I can't see someone holding something that happened 40 years ago against you. Do a check on yourself. Pull your DAC, crminal history, credit report, ect...
With ID theft as it is today there may be something there that you don't know about.

[Roadhog]

Maybe the nature of the felony conviction (such as drug, weapons, violence) has something to do with it?

[GMAN]

The best way to find out if it is harming your chances of getting back into this business is to ask those who have turned you down. Something that happened 40 years ago should not have much of an impact on today. If it were me I would be on the phone with some of those companies where you have applied and ask them. That is the best way to find out.

[oldrookie]

First of all guys, I really wasn't looking for advise but I appretiate you r comments anyway.
I'll address one by one. Ridgerunner: DAC good. Credit VERY good. Waiting on fingerprint card from Maryland to get records. Maybe they don't want to hire an old guy. Roadhog: Read closer. The charges were not convictions. I can vote and buy guns legally over the counter. Have Ga. firearms permit.
Gman: An employer is NOT going to tell you why they have turned you down. EEOC rules can be sketchy. Therefore an appeal would make them have to jump thru some various hoops. Do you think they are volintarily invite a court action? Of course not.
Everyone please note: My post was simply a caution to others. A FYI note. In other words; a consideration for others who may have criminal records.
My plan is to get a copy of my records and volintarily give it to an employer right off the bat. That way I won't waste my time.

[Trukrswyfe]

No advise here.

Good for you Honesty works best. Hope the right job comes along.

[Roadhog]

Roadhog: Read closer. The charges were not convictions.

Okay. But I did read there was a disposition of probation. That suggests you had a plea agreement on a felony charge, due to a felony arrest. The terms of this probation might have read a suspension of charges during the probation period, with your charges expunged, or dropped, depending upon a successful probation term?

Anyway, that is how I read it, and often times the first offense is provided a chance for the person to prove this was a mistake in which they wish to never repeat. You must have proven that to be the case, or otherwise you would have not completed your probation period successfully, and the charges would have been upheld. No probation would have been given, if you merely were found not guilty, and no plea agreement necessary.

This quote on your part gave me reasonable assumption.
"Using this sites trucking companies comp list I have applied to those that had limited felony time restrictions."
"I had 2 felony court actions FORTY years ago!!! Probation before verdict on both counts."

I can’t assume any further with the info you gave...such as...
"I can vote and buy guns legally over the counter. Have Ga. firearms permit."
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I was trying to be helpful. What I pointed out will still apply to "others" as you wish. There can be an allowance by Companies to hire in cases of Felony convictions over a certain amount of years....BUT these Companies may also have restrictions on "nature of the disposition." Such as a NO drug offense, Etc.

If someone does have a felony charge dropped or expunged upon a successful probation agreement... one STILL must follow up with an Attorney to be certain your record is dropped or expunged. This must be ruled upon in Court and is a condition which is not merely assumed just because a probation period was successfully completed. An expunged record is hidden from the public, but not from the Judicial System. Law Enforcement will still see your arrest record and it's disposition.

I have no idea of any ones criminal history, other than bits and pieces of it they wish to speak about. I think though...if a person was arrested on a felony charge, and given a plea agreement of a suspension of charges upon a successful probation...that IS a conviction. The only Ruling that trumps that is being found NOT GUILTY, or if the Presiding Judge throws the case out for any number of reasons. We do not give probation to innocent people.

[rvrjr7]

Just be 100% honest about what happened dont try to hide it and if your background has been real good since most companys might overlook that

[ohiomohawk]

You might try to find some owner operators who might put you in thier truck.

[BigDiesel]

Probation = Conviction, Felony or Misdemenor.

[Uturn2001]

Roadhog: Read closer. The charges were not convictions.

Then why list them on your applications? They are asking for convictions, why provide them with more information than asked for.

[RottsATruckin]

Boys and girls hear this. If you have EVER had any sort of FELONY activity involving ANY court action; You are may have a difficult time finding a job.

Difficult yes, but not impossible.
I work for a good company.
The nature of the charge, time, and a good attitude will determine who will hire you.

Good Luck

[brown7477]

Good post. I have a felony and I did a lot of research into this. The reason is that the insurance company will not cover you. They only see a black mark and don't look at the dates. Do you really think these companies care about your past? There is big shortage of drivers and many companies are looking for drivers. well why won't they hire me? I am not a thief and I can do the job as well as anybody can. The reason is the insurance companies put little clauses in the policies that disqualify claims if they involve someone with a blackmark on their record.

Kind of like the Insurance Commercial where a tree falls on someones car and they want to file a claim and because it was a certain type of tree it was disqualified.

These companies pay Millions of $$$ to their insurance companies and any slight modifications will effect the cost. So they try to accommodate the insurance companies to the best of their ability.

I know it sucks and there should be a way for us "EX" felons to prove ourselves trustworthy without going through all the grief we go through to get into the industry.

[GMAN]

I am not sure insurance companies regularly do criminal background checks on new drivers. I believe my insurance company only checks MVR records. I don't think it affects my drivers, but they also check my credit history, length of time in business, claims, etc., It would be interesting to know whether they also check criminal histories. There are some carriers who will check a driver's criminal background.

[brown7477]

they may not check it in the beginning. but they always look for a way out of paying when there is a claim.

[Dispatch_This]

I don't think a 40 year old felony is your problem. Lack of recent experience (nine years since you last drove a truck) is.

[brown7477]

I don't think a 40 year old felony is your problem. Lack of recent experience (nine years since you last drove a truck) is.

I know your right there, but there are a lot of companies that will train him. But if the insurance will not pay out on claims for anything that happens to anything he is in control of like theft or an accident they will not even train him.