Are you looking for a job that provides great pay and benefits, while also allowing you to hit the road? If so, the trucking industry could be perfect for you . . . but first, it’s important to know a little about trucking companies that hire felons. Show
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that there are nearly two million jobs available for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. So, this is definitely an industry that’s always hiring. With that in mind, we’re going to answer the following:
If you have any of these questions, you’ve come to the right place. At Relaunch Pad, we contact companies directly to find out their policy for hiring former felons. Many of our team members are former offenders who’ve struggled to find employment themselves. We know what it takes to get hired, so take our tips to heart. In this article, we’ll take a close look at ten of the biggest names in the trucking industry that we know have hired felons in the past. We’ll give you overviews of the companies, plus the most essential information for former offenders applying to these companies. Not only that, but we’ll also tell you about smaller companies with similar hiring policies. Then, we’ll wrap things up by giving you the info you need to improve your chances of getting hired on with these companies! Now, let’s take a closer look at some truck driving companies that hire felons. Trucking companies that hire felonsYou’ve driven truck before. You know you can do the work. But can you still get hired, now that you have a record? Maybe that’s why you’re here: You’re newly released and have heard that some trucking companies hire felons. Either way, you’re in the right place. We’re going to overview the following in this section:
We’ll also look at the possibility of getting a job with a trucking company if you’re on probation, if you have no experience or if you need training. As mentioned above, we contact each company directly to give you straight answers. If we didn’t get enough information, we did some research into the company to get the facts. So, let’s dive in. . . Information about trucking companies that hire felonsFirst, here are some trucking companies that have hired former offenders in the past. You’re probably familiar with many of them: National trucking companies that hire felons These companies offer services throughout most of the United States:
Regional trucking companies that hire felons These companies cover specific regions in the US:
UPSYou may think of UPS as a local delivery company, and that’s a big part of what they do. But they’re also a major player when it comes to the LTL (Less Than Truckload) market. So, they need great truck drivers at UPS Freight to deliver pallets for their customers. And they also need regional drivers who can haul trailers with packages for home and business delivery.
Schneider NationalIf you’ve ever driven on a major highway, you’ve probably seen a Schneider National truck. They are a huge player in the trucking industry, and they hire drivers from all over the US. There are many driving job opportunities at Schneider, such as OTR (Over the Road), Team, Regional and LTL.
Swift TransportationAccording to their company profile on glassdoor.com, “Swift Transportation is the largest full-truckload motor carrier in North America.” They have over forty facilities in the United States and Mexico, and one of the largest fleets in the industry. They pride themselves on being dedicated to the success of their drivers.
Werner EnterprisesAccording to their website, “Werner is among the five largest truckload carriers in the United States.” Their driving routes range from medium- to long-haul, regional and local. They have more than 11,000 drivers who haul retail and grocery store merchandise, as well as consumer and manufactured products.
Prime Inc.According to their profile on glassdoor.com, “Prime Inc is North America’s most successful refrigerated tanker, flatbed and intermodal company.” They hire company drivers and independent contractors, and they also have a Student Driver program. They pride themselves on offering the best support, pay and equipment in the industry.
C.R. EnglandC.R. England prides themselves on being “the nation’s most reliable refrigerated transportation company.” At their core, they care about their customers and employees. Their primary areas of focus include Truckload and LTL services. They also have five driving schools across the country.
Knight TransportationKnight Transportation offers truckload transportation services throughout the US and into parts of Mexico and Canada. They focus on short- to medium-haul loads, rather than long-haul. They coordinate freight moves from their 35 regional operations centers. Knight Transportation is dedicated to driver safety and great customer service.
CeladonCeladon prides themselves on being “the premier NAFTA carrier in North America.” They primarily offer long-haul and regional full truckload services. They recruit drivers for solo and team runs. Celadon also puts a large emphasis on the benefits, career security and job satisfaction they offer their drivers.
Crete CarrierAccording to their website, Crete Carrier is “one of the largest privately owned trucking companies in the country.” They pride themselves on hiring drivers who exceed DOT standards. They also offer a benefits package which helps them retain drivers “three times longer” than their competition.
Cardinal LogisticsCardinal Logistics takes pride in being “one of the largest, most diverse dedicated fleets in the US.” They are very customer-focused. Their goal is to find drivers who will help them take great care of their customers. They are actively seeking new talent and offer comprehensive benefits to encourage drivers to pursue a career with them.
Trucking companies that hire recent felonsWhile all of the companies above have hired former offenders, not all of them hire felons on the same timeline. Here are the companies which are most likely to hire recent felons:
These companies hire on a case-by-case basis, rather than requiring your felony to be a certain number of years old. This means that they are more likely to hire you if you were recently released. Trucking companies that hire felons after 5 yearsMany of the companies we researched won’t consider you unless your felony is a certain number of years old. These companies require your felony to be at least five years old:
Trucking companies that hire felons after 7 yearsHere are some companies which will consider hiring you once your felony is over seven years old:
Trucking companies that hire felons after 10 yearsThese companies will consider hiring you after your felony is over 10 years old:
Keep in mind that if you’re serious about this career path, these doors could open to you in the future. Maybe the trucking company you really want to drive for won’t hire you until your offense is five to ten years old. If so, go get experience with a company that will hire you. Then, when enough time has passed, contact the company you’re really interested in driving for. They’ll be impressed by your experience and more likely to consider you in spite of your record. Trucking companies that hire felons on probationThe companies we contacted directly didn’t specify whether they’ve hired felons on probation. This doesn’t mean trucking companies won’t hire you if you’re on probation. It just means it might be more of a challenge than finding work once you’ve successfully completed probation. Here’s some information that may help you figure out the best companies to start with:
Trucking companies that hire felons with no experienceIf you get nothing else from this article, please hear this: Trucking companies are in desperate need of good drivers! If this career path excites you, even if you don’t have any experience, give it a shot! In fact, several trucking companies that we researched have ads posted on indeed.com that say they don’t require experience. If this will be your first trucking job, here are some companies you may want to check out:
Getting Started Some of you may be thinking, “I just found out that I can get my CDL. I’m not even sure how to start.” You may have questions like:
You can always pick up a copy of your state’s Commercial Driver’s License Manual and start studying on your own. If you go this route, there are several websites you can use to quiz yourself to make sure you’re ready for the test at the DMV. Here are just a few:
If you’d rather take a CDL class, chances are there’s a school near you that will help you to get your license. Many of these schools have trucking companies waiting to snag their graduates right away. But that’s not the only way to get your CDL. . . Trucking companies that hire felons and trainMany companies have programs in place for recruiting and training drivers. They create a win-win scenario by helping drivers get their licenses and then putting them to work after they graduate. Here are some companies that have training programs:
Be sure to check them out and talk to a recruiter if they’re on your list of companies you’d like to drive for. Letting them know you’re willing to go through their training could be a great way to get your foot in the door. You could also end up with paid training and a job as soon as you graduate! What does CDL school look like? It’s usually a mix between hands-on training and classroom learning. You’ll alternate between the two until you know all the essentials. Things like: Pre-trip inspections, the ins and outs of air-brakes, logbooks, and (of course) driving! They do everything they can to make sure you’re ready to pass your tests and hit the road within just a few weeks. Local trucking companies that hire felonsThe hiring policies of some of the companies mentioned above may make it difficult for you to get a job with them. Don’t give up! Just because you have trouble getting a job with a national carrier, doesn’t mean a local company won’t give you a chance. In fact, you may find that local companies are even more willing to hire you. Be sure to network with your local career center to see if they know about CDL schools in your area. Also, ask them if they know of local trucking companies that have hired former felons in the past. Then go introduce yourself to the person who does their hiring and see what it takes to get on board. Offenses which may make it more difficult to get a job in this industryNot all felonies are treated equally in the transportation industry. Here are some types of offenses which may make it more difficult to get a truck driving job:
With all of that being said, there are people with felonies that fit within the categories above who have found successful careers in the trucking industry. If you’re able to get your CDL and show you’re a reliable and safe driver, there are many companies out there who will be willing to give you a chance. If one of them says no, move on to the next. How to get a job with trucking companies that hire felonsGetting hired in any industry comes down to standing out as the best applicant. The trucking industry is no different. Here are some steps you can take to make sure you stand out:
Most importantly, know your value! Driving a truck is an extremely valuable skill. If you get turned down by the first couple of companies you apply to, don’t give up. There’s a company out there that needs your help! Have you been hired in the trucking industry before? Share your experiences!If you’re a former felon who’s found success in this industry, let us know. Your advice and insights could be incredibly helpful to someone else who’s looking for a career in this industry. Please share your story in the comments below. Do you have any questions we didn’t answer? Feel free to ask them as well. Does CR England hire felons?No. anyone with a felony cannot hold a Class A CDL.
What is the highest paying job for felons?Getting a decent job is the first and most crucial step toward getting back on your feet.. Welding. Many convicted felons find that welding is a rewarding career. ... . Electrician. If you need a job as a felon, consider working as an electrician. ... . HVAC Technician. ... . Carpenter. ... . Military. ... . Oil Field Jobs. ... . Truck Driver. ... . Marketing.. Does Carter Express hire felons?Hiring Drivers With Felonies
Felony or misdemeanor convictions may preclude employment.
Can a felon get a CDL license in Georgia?If you have a felony that is not related to using a commercial vehicle to commit any part of the felony, you should generally not have an issue with getting your CDL, even if you have a felony on your record.
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