Worried about Past Drinking Charges

[sillysundy]

Yes, I want so much to go to driver school and get my CDL. The only thing is I have a DUI back in 2002, and was on probation until May 2004. Also, a year before that, I have a public intoxication w/3 prior convictions (for PI). The first three PI's were in city jail and never showed up on my state record. They are all misdemeanors and I have nothing after that. My driving record is perfect, with no tickets or accidents in over 15 years! I have now overcome my problem with alcohol and have had no charges since 2004. Do you think I have a chance of getting hired by any company that trains? Swift told me the reason I didn't get it is because it hasn't been quite 5 years (three more months) until end of probation. The recruiter told me to try back in a few more months, which I thought was good news. But I am still worried about the public intoxication charge. What do you think??? Should I give up trying or will I have a chance if I wait a few more months??? I have no felonies.

[Rev.Vassago]

Don't even bother. With a record such as yours, nobody will touch you.

[Mackman]

Don't even bother. With a record such as yours, nobody will touch you.

Why do you say that Rev??? I didn't think it was that bad.
Even if he waits it out alittle longer he may have a chance.

Right now trucking is slow so they aren't looking for a ton of drivers. But when trucking picks up and they got to fill seats i think he wouldn't have a problem getting hired.

[Snowman7]

Why do you say that Rev??? I didn't think it was that bad.
Even if he waits it out alittle longer he may have a chance.

Right now trucking is slow so they aren't looking for a ton of drivers. But when trucking picks up and they got to fill seats i think he wouldn't have a problem getting hired.

Unfortunately, you may be right Mackman.

[sillysundy]

Well, thanks for your input, even though I was hoping to hear some positive news! Guess I'm off to bartending school! When I see the qualifications, like at Prime, they say no alcohol convictions for five years. That's why I was a little confused. I no longer drink and it seems like after 5 years, I would have proved myself. One recruiter told me I would have no problem in a few more months. Another one had different views.

I guess I'll have to wait and see. I know the PI's look bad, but they still do not constitute "DWI".

I'm a woman, by the way.

[Mackman]

Well, thanks for your input, even though I was hoping to hear some positive news! Guess I'm off to bartending school! When I see the qualifications, like at Prime, they say no alcohol convictions for five years. That's why I was a little confused. I no longer drink and it seems like after 5 years, I would have proved myself. One recruiter told me I would have no problem in a few more months. Another one had different views.

I guess I'll have to wait and see. I know the PI's look bad, but they still do not constitute "DWI".

I'm a woman, by the way.

Dont give up. It will be hard since you need CDL training. IS there anyway you got the money to pay for CDL school your self. If so then you try the smaller carriers. Good luck to whatever you do.

[Rev.Vassago]

Why do you say that Rev??? I didn't think it was that bad.
Even if he waits it out alittle longer he may have a chance.

Right now trucking is slow so they aren't looking for a ton of drivers. But when trucking picks up and they got to fill seats i think he wouldn't have a problem getting hired.

There is a huge glut of drivers right now who have no record who can't find jobs. When the industry picks up again (and there's no saying how long it will be), those drivers are going to likely take priority over someone who does have a record.

[GMAN]

Well, thanks for your input, even though I was hoping to hear some positive news! Guess I'm off to bartending school! When I see the qualifications, like at Prime, they say no alcohol convictions for five years. That's why I was a little confused. I no longer drink and it seems like after 5 years, I would have proved myself. One recruiter told me I would have no problem in a few more months. Another one had different views.

I guess I'll have to wait and see. I know the PI's look bad, but they still do not constitute "DWI".

I'm a woman, by the way.

I am a bit surprised that you would consider going to bartending school if you had a problem with alcohol. This industry takes alcohol related convictions very seriously. The DUI by itself could be over come with a few years since the conviction. The multiple public intoxication charges added to the DUI make it more difficult for many carriers to consider you. I would say it depends on whether those charges show up on a criminal background check. If you tell them about those previous charges they may or may not consider giving you a chance. Most carriers do criminal background checks on new drivers. If you don't tell them about it and it shows up then you will be terminated and a note will be place on your DAC that states that you falsified your application. DAC is like a credit report that tracks your work history in this business.

[Mackman]

I am a bit surprised that you would consider going to bartending school if you had a problem with alcohol.

I was thinking the same thing.

[sillysundy]

Dont give up. It will be hard since you need CDL training. IS there anyway you got the money to pay for CDL school your self. If so then you try the smaller carriers. Good luck to whatever you do.

Yes, I can get a Pell Grant at San Jacinto College and go to truck driving school there. They have a pretty good program. I am trying to get re-trained for something besides minimum wage. I was a legal secretary before and those jobs have also downsized. The only way I could afford to exist on minimum wage is to work two jobs and I don't know if I can do that.

I think I may be able to drive locally here in Houston if I get a CDL. What do you think? At least that way, I could get my foot in the door and get a track record.

Right now I am only working part-time delivering pizza's and the rest of my bills are being paid out of my savings. That's why I thought about bartending school because it doesn't take very long and the money is pretty good.

The PI does show up because I got a copy of the report from Swift. The reason it got enhanced is because I had 3 other ones in city jail before that. Otherwise, it never would have shown up! My attorney said he has seen other people in Houston get tons of those and never get it enhanced

So, I have to find something I can do that will not look for (or count) these types of charges. It's pretty rough!!!!

[hewithoutname]

Yes, I want so much to go to driver school and get my CDL. The only thing is I have a DUI back in 2002, and was on probation until May 2004. Also, a year before that, I have a public intoxication w/3 prior convictions (for PI). The first three PI's were in city jail and never showed up on my state record. They are all misdemeanors and I have nothing after that. My driving record is perfect, with no tickets or accidents in over 15 years! I have now overcome my problem with alcohol and have had no charges since 2004. Do you think I have a chance of getting hired by any company that trains? Swift told me the reason I didn't get it is because it hasn't been quite 5 years (three more months) until end of probation. The recruiter told me to try back in a few more months, which I thought was good news. But I am still worried about the public intoxication charge. What do you think??? Should I give up trying or will I have a chance if I wait a few more months??? I have no felonies.

As someone who sits on the hiring committee at my company and being in the industry for many years, I can say with certainty that the odds of you being hired are slim to none. Most companies have a general rule of say, no DUI's in the past 5 years, but most expand beyond that to look at the "big picture". Normally more than 1 DUI or in a case such as yours where you only had 1 DUI, but you do have other alcohol related convictions will most certainly knock you out of consideration. Alcohol and commercial vehicles don't mix and thank God for that!

[Jimbpard]

Are you aware that local jobs are much harder to get than otr?
Just give up now.
Ask yourself this. If you had a trucking company, would you hire yourself?
I know if someone handed me an application with atleast 3-4 different alcohol convictions on it, I would laugh, and throw it in the trash.

[dollarshort]

Well, thanks for your input, even though I was hoping to hear some positive news! Guess I'm off to bartending school! When I see the qualifications, like at Prime, they say no alcohol convictions for five years. That's why I was a little confused. I no longer drink and it seems like after 5 years, I would have proved myself. One recruiter told me I would have no problem in a few more months. Another one had different views.

I guess I'll have to wait and see. I know the PI's look bad, but they still do not constitute "DWI".

I'm a woman, by the way.

I know you feel a P.I. doesn't constitute a D.U.I. All it really does is show a 'PATTERN'. What's with so many drinking convictions? Stressed out? If you turn to the bottle to wash away your problems then maybe trucking isn't for you.

[dollarshort]

I was thinking the same thing.

If the end result is your are going to end up with a bottle in your hand it might as well be for cost or even free right?

[sillysundy]

If the end result is your are going to end up with a bottle in your hand it might as well be for cost or even free right?

I'll have to agree when you put everything in that light, it looks like I am not going to get a chance. People really do overcome challenges such as mine, and I think they deserve a second chance. I had a problem during that time period, but not anymore.

You certainly have a right to your opinion, as do I. I'm sure glad I don't think the way you guys do!

[TimberWolf]

Companies can now pick the best of the litter when it comes to drivers. In our monthly saftey meeting this past week our corporate leaders told us they had over 300 applicants in Fort Lauderdale to fill only 15 local jobs pulling fuel. Hence it would be in our best interest to protect our CDL's at all cost as jobs are becoming far and few between and most companies will only look at those drivers with spotless records.

Good luck it can be done but you have your work cut out for you... it will come down to being in the right place at the right time.

Timberwolf

[Rev.Vassago]

People really do overcome challenges such as mine, and I think they deserve a second chance.

You're right - people do overcome those challenges. And yet many never do, even though they try.

According to Drug and Alcohol Relapse Prevention, 54% of recovering alcoholics suffer a relapse. Should carriers simply give the benefit of the doubt and put an 80,000 lb weapon into all their hands? After all, even though the odds are against you, you "deserve" a second chance.

I wonder if you think an airline pilot who was caught drinking while flying deserves a second chance too. How about an brain surgeon who was caught boozing pre-op?

Second chances are never "deserved". They are not a right. They are a privilege, and are few and far between in the cutthroat world of trucking.

[Snowman7]

You're right - people do overcome those challenges. And yet many never do, even though they try.

According to Drug and Alcohol Relapse Prevention, 54% of recovering alcoholics suffer a relapse. Should carriers simply give the benefit of the doubt and put an 80,000 lb weapon into all their hands? After all, even though the odds are against you, you "deserve" a second chance.

I wonder if you think an airline pilot who was caught drinking while flying deserves a second chance too. How about an brain surgeon who was caught boozing pre-op?

Second chances are never "deserved". They are not a right. They are a privilege, and are few and far between in the cutthroat world of trucking.

Exactly. I applaud you for turning your life around but the truth is most people cant do it without a relapse. So if someone takes a chance on you and you relapse, causing a major accident, that company will get fried once your past is exposed.

[Mackman]

I think everyone should get a 2nd chance i mean we are all human. The guy that train me at Venezia was a big time drug user at one time. He had really messed up teeth from smoking that stuff. But he told me he has been clean for almost 10 years. He said the best thing that happen to him was getting his CDL. Cuz to him he had something big and something to keep him off the drugs. He was a great guy and trainer.

[Mackman]

YouTube - Jeff Bates - One Second Chance


Take a look at the video. It is a good song by jeff bates called One Second Chance. It was on the radio a couple years ago. He sings about trying to get a truck driving job but his past drug charges are stopping him from getting hired.

Like i said i think everyone should get a second chance but only 1. Not 3 or 4. Just my 2cents.