Tryin to get into the field
 

I'm actually trying to get into the field and get training. I've applied at several companies with no luck. My MVR is good with no tickets or accidents but the problem is the background check. I made mistakes when I was younger as most of us have and I have two misdemeanor convictions on my record from 12 and 10 years ago, non drug related I will say. These convictions are preventing me from getting hired on by Swift and Schneider. I have been completely honest about these convictions being well aware that they may or may not show depending on how far back the company ges and also given the fact the amount of time has lapsed and I have completely turned my life around. My questions are how far back do most companies go with the background check and do most take into account the amount of time that has passed since the convictions??? How does one that is being completely honest and forthcoming about their past get into the industry to prove themselves?? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

SlyFox

Re: Tryin to get into the field
 

Saying that they were misdemeanor non-drug doesn't really help.

Were you told by Swift and Schneider that this was the reason why they would not take you?

What is your work history like?

right now companys are being a little more picky on who they hire, they can because things are slow right now. I'd find out exactly why they won't hire you and keep looking. DON"T waste your money paying for schooling unless you can get a oked by a couple of companys, if your looking for co. paid training you might have to wait awhile then start applying over again

Yeah I was told by both that the misdemeanors were the reason I would not be hired, but Swift did tell me that in October they would hire me because that will be the actual 10 yr mark since the last misdemeanor. The recruiter in Richmond informed me that they go back 10 years and in October there will be nothing showing... Also I am in the process with CRST, looks like they will actually take me on as they only go back 7 years and since my work history is solid with no major gaps, been with the same company for over 7 years, with a one month break last year. Does anyone know anything about the CRST school in Louisa KY. Thats where the recruiter from CRST said I will be going once safety/investigations signs off. I was told 3 weeks at school, then to Carlisle PA, home for 3 days then off to be with a mentor for 28 days... Plus unless this is total BS, I was told you run 21 days out with 5 days hometime.. Does this sound accurate to anyone

Slyfox

do a search (up at the top) on crst.

You do know that CRST is a team operation? If you are wanting to be solo - won't happen there.

I am aware that CRST is team and thats where I want to start out until I get my experience level up. I'm not tryin to get in too deep too fast and from what I have been told by the recruiter, the truck splits the miles, so I'm assuming, and if I'm wrong someone please correct me, that if the team runs 5000 miles a week then we split 2500 miles each???? From what I've seen and I've been watching and reading these threads for a while before signing up 21 days out with 5 days of home time sounds like one heck of a deal. Now if someone reading this thread is a current or former CRST driver I would love to know your experience with the company as far as the DM's and the loads are concerned

I can tell you first hand!
The school in Louisa had 2 trucks break down last week while at the state testing facility. This means the students had to test in a truck that they had never been in.
While in Louisa, bring a GOOD sleeping bag, the dorm is rather cold.

And there is no home time in between school and Carlisle.

Re: Tryin to get into the field
 

That is an overgeneralization, and is completely incorrect. Most people don't have misdemeanors on their record.

Ok then I'm not going to argue that point. but to make it shorter and sweeter, CRST called me and said I had the position then 3 hours later the same recruiter called back and said that management re-evaluated its decision and decided not to take me on. Anyone ever had that happen or heard of that happen??? So now I'm back at square 1 and really need some ideas and suggestions.

This is really weird, if all they were are misdemeanors; I find it hard to believe that is keeping you from finding a job. Is someone from your previous place of employment giving you a bad reference?

Not that I know of.. I have been told that all my references speak nothing but highly of me and how hard of a worker I am and that they would hate to lose me. Now I've gotten that from the recruiter at CRST and my current boss and their statements match up perfect. But what I have been told is that the misdemeanors are what is preventing me from getting hired. So now I've filed a petition with the local Commonwealth Attorney to get the charges expunged because this is what the law says is a manifest injustice with these convictions biting me in the ass even though I have not had any trouble with the law in 10 years, Not even as much as a speeding ticket. My lawyer seems to think they will get expunged even though they are convictions based on my spotless record since. So my next question is, does anyone have any ideas on companies that will give someone a chance to prove themselves or am I wasting my time chasing dreams????

What 'class' were the misdemeanor charges?

It may be what they are for that is causing the problem, as well as the class that they were. I don't remember which is worse the "A" or the "C" class. I have heard some people having great difficulty with "B" class misdemeanors -- in their case it was theft by check for under $500.

I hope that when you have talked to recruiters you have been more open with what the charges were and their outcome.

They were class 1 in the state of VA, which is the more serious class, but as I have said before these occured when I was 18 and 20 respectively, I am now just 2 months shy of my 30th bday and yes I have been entirely open and up front about the convictions. I'm not tryin to hide them because I know that if I get hired on and they pop up in the background check I'm gone no questions asked. Its not like I'm not telling the recruiters about them, and when I told the CRST recruiter about them she was like, oh they never even showed up in the background check. and thats why the initial job offer was made because they didn't show up but she knew about these from the get-go. Because I was being honest about them and not trying to decieve anyone, even though they did NOT show up in the background check, I was told I couldn't be hired on 3 hours after an initial job offer. Now if I had kept my mouth shut and not said a word about them and they didn't show in the background check I would be leaving for school next week. I can see where honesty gets you in this industry,,, Sitting on the sidelines hoping for the best while expecting the worst

I am not familiar with the CRST application, but if it says have you ever been convicted of felony/misdemeanor then you must report all of them. If it says within a certain time period IMHO - don't.

The other flipside of this is that if you have not told them, you would have been at orientation and sent home from there. The background check that you go through to get the pre-hire is a 30 thousand foot view, when you get to orientation they got a lot lower.

A company that requires a hazmat (I think CRST does) will also use the requirements of obtaining a hazmat.

Young Man,

As the trucker in one of the previous responses noted, everybody makes mistakes in life but that does NOT mean we all have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor, let alone two convictions.

You probably know the answer to why companies are not standing in line to offer you a job, because you know your criminal record.

You keep dancing around but you are not giving us the facts. That makes it very hard to give you any type of answer.

It is like somebody telling us that they have a "medical" problem and can not get hired because of it. If that medical problem means that the person has a history, and is at risk of, epileptic seizures that would be much different from a person who might have a mild case of hypertension.

There are guidlines as far as what a company, as a rule, will accept or not accept, in regards to your personal background and history. Those are general guidlines, they don't have to stick with that.
Starting at the age of 18, a criminal record is a reflection of your character. If as an adult you were convicted twice for theft, good luck finding a job. If it involved any drugs or violance, good luck finding a job. No matter if it was 5 or 15 years ago.

That doesn't mean that I don't believe people can change their life but the reality is, given a choice, people will always pick somebody with a clean criminal record over a person with a criminal record.

I think today's youth is becoming more and more aware of the consequences of their crimes. In the old days they would say.... "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime", but today it means a little more then being able to do the time. It is something what will stick with you for the rest of your live.

Good luck.

As the previous poster said, you have not given anyone anything to work with. Your asking for advice without giving anyone the benefit of knowing what you're up against. That said, you claimed your misdemeanors do not involve drugs, which is one of the major no-no's. However, if your misdemeanors involve violence or sexual deviancy in any way, that'll explain it, too.

I did some looking on a virgina law firms website, this is what a class 1 consists of

Jail time Max 12 months
Fine $2,500

There were several others listed but here is a sampling of some of the crimes:
Assault & Battery
DUI/DWI
Reckless Driving
Disorderly Conduct
Schedule III drug violations

Ok been off my computer for a few days but I have read the posts here. Ok here is the real unadulterated facts. I have two misdemeanor convictions dating Oct 1996 for contributing to the delinquincy of a minor, before anyone assumes, no alcohol was involved. I was 18 and my girlfriend at the time was 17. Her father didn't like me much and when I was late bringing her home for her curfew due to car problems he went and swore out a warrant for her being out past curfew. I did 45 days in jai behind that stint and we broke up shortly thereafter. The second misdemeanor conviction dating to Oct 1998 was for misdemeanor sexual battery. I could not account for my whereabouts for a 1 hr timespan between the time I left my job and got home because I was riding public transportation. I was accused and unfortunately convicted of the sexual battery, misdemeanor. I was accused of touching a 16 y/o old girl innapropriately, which to this very day I still deny doing because I was not where she said it happened. but I could not prove my whereabouts for the timespan she said this occured. I was sentenced to 3 weekends of community service, so if that has any indication of how seriously the judge took the accusation. I have transcripts that state the judge believed this was a BS charge but non the less convicted me. So those are the true facts of the convictions that are stopping me from being offered a job. Now fastforward to 2008 where I have not been in any trouble since 1998, not so much as a speeding ticket, I am married and have been since 2006 and been with the same woman since 2000. Given I have told all, can anyone offer any sound advice about any company that may hire me on and help me get training even with my soiled past. I am not proud of the problems I have had but I am not trying to hide them either since I came out in the open on this board and told all.