As a sex offender, you’ve no doubt encountered some major difficulties when it comes to finding a job, especially a job that pays a decent wage. Trucking jobs pay well, so you may be wondering if there are any trucking companies that hire sex offenders?
There’s no mystery about the reasons employers are reluctant to hire sex offenders. Even though you may be fully capable of doing a job competently, they’re making a judgment – sound or otherwise – about your capacity to be a danger to their staff and their customers.
And of course, they’re acutely conscious of public perception and don’t want to face a backlash if it became known that an employee was a sex offender.
So what’s the situation with trucking companies? They’re known to hire felons, but are there any trucking companies that are willing to hire convicted sex offenders?
You won’t be surprised to learn that trucking companies don’t exactly hang out a ‘we’re hiring sex offenders sign’, nevertheless, you do stand a chance of being hired by a trucking company even with a sexual offense on your record.
It won’t be easy, and you should brace yourself for rejections, but it’s certainly possible for a sex offender to get hired to drive a truck.
Let’s get into some details.
Are There Trucking Companies That Hire Sex Offenders?
While trucking companies don’t broadcast their hiring policies when it comes to sex offenders, they do list some requirements concerning more general offences.
For example, many trucking companies that will hire individuals with a felony on their record, state that a minimum period needs to have passed since the felony offense took place. This can be 5, 7, or 10 years for example.
Other trucking companies don’t specify a minimum period and instead consider criminal backgrounds on a case-by-case basis.
Several trucking companies specifically mention that they won’t hire sex offenders, while others single out rapists.
Many crimes fall into the broad category of a sexual offense, and with the trucking companies that don’t specifically exclude sex offenders, the type of sexual offense on your record is going to determine whether you get hired.
As a general rule, if your offense is one that is considered to be a predatory sexual offense, you’ll find it difficult to convince a trucking company to hire you.
Less serious sexual offenses, where you are clearly no threat to another person may not be such a barrier. For example, a conviction for statutory rape while you were 17 and your ‘consenting’ partner was 15 in a state with an age of consent of 16, is a sexual offense that you would have a chance of explaining to a trucking company that hires on a case-by-case basis.
While the companies we’ll suggest in this article are national trucking companies, you should also look at small independent trucking outfits, and local construction companies that need dump truck drivers or drivers to transport heavy equipment between job sites.
Small operators that truck animals, milk, produce and grain in farm countries are also worth investigating.
The larger the company, the less choice a hiring manager has over who is and isn’t hired because their hands are tied by company policy and your background check report. A small company isn’t bound by the same red tape.
How Far Back Do Trucking Company Background Checks Go?
All trucking companies carry out background checks that search county, state, and federal databases to uncover any criminal background you have.
What’s more, background checks can also search all 50 state sex offender registries unless state law prohibits the use of that information for employment purposes.
A search of sex offenders’ registries is an optional extra on top of the standard criminal background check. We don’t know which trucking companies order the extra level of investigation but it’s more likely than not that the majority of large companies will make the extra checks.
An issue with sex offender registries is that many states make your employer’s name and address public information. So being a registered sex offender can present a problem for an employer even if the nature of your crime means you don’t pose a risk to anyone.
In general, there is no time limit on reporting felony sexual offenses of any kind. So if you have a sexual offense on your record, your background check will report it to the trucking company.
The only exceptions are in the states that have introduced their own time limits. These states have set 7-year background report limits:
- California
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevado
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
In some states, the 7-year limit is set from the date of your conviction, while other states allow the date of your release from prison or start of probation to be included.
Even if your offense doesn’t show up on a background check because it’s too old in your state, if you have an active sex offenders registration, and the background check includes a sex offenders registry search, your inclusion on the registry will be reported and your conviction revealed.
When a background report includes a search of the sex offenders registry, the details of the associated crime are only reported if the offense is within the legally permitted time frame for reporting.
For example, if you live in a state that limits felony reporting to 7 years and your felony sexual offense took place 10 years ago, the criminal record search part of the background report wouldn’t mention it, but the sex offenders registry search would.
Because the associated criminal offense can’t be reported, the only information available to an employer is the fact that you’re on the registry.
The employer isn’t told anything about your level of risk, which is why you should be prepared to volunteer the official information you have regarding your risk classification. And if you’re a low-risk offender, then you absolutely want any prospective employer to know that fact.
It’s a good idea to look up the laws for your state regarding background check time limits and the regulations your state has set about using information from the sex offenders registry for employment decisions.
The more information you have about your rights, the better. And if there’s any possibility of early termination from the sex offenders registry you should consult with a lawyer about how to proceed.
Which Trucking Companies Hire Sex Offenders?
There’s no guarantee that any trucking company will hire you. It will depend on the nature of your sexual offense, how long ago the offence occurred, and what your overall employment and conduct record has been like since that time.
Driving and drug offenses will also be reasons your application could be rejected.
When you’re applying to truck companies, it’s vital that you nail down your suitability for hiring before you head off to their CDL school, or to their residential onboarding.
In many companies, the background check will take place at the onboarding center or training school, and if they decide to reject you, you’ve got a long trip home.
All of the following companies are prepared to consider applications from felons and because they don’t expressly exclude sex offenders in their hiring requirements, these are the trucking companies that you can apply to.
A.D. Transport Express
Felony offenses reviewed and must be at least 5 years old.
Need to have 10 months of OTR driving experience.
Averitt Express
All convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Barr-Nunn Transportation
Felony offenses must be over 7 years old.
Bear Trucking
Will review all offenses over 5 years old.
Need 2 years of CDL A driving experience.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No negligent driving in the last 5 years.
No more than 3 points on your license in the last 3 years.
Bennett Motor Express
Felony offenses need to be at least 7 years old.
No alcohol offenses in the last 5 years.
No more than 2 moving violations in the last 3 years.
Boyd Brothers
Evaluates all offenses on a case-by-case basis.
Offenses must be at least 5 years old.
Carolina Cargo
All offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Must have a clear motor vehicle report (MVR).
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No more than 5 minor traffic violations in the last 5 years.
Covenant Transport
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Offenses must be at least 5 years old.
You can apply while still on parole or probation but your offense is still subject to review.
CT Transportation
Felony offenses must be at least 10 years old.
No misdemeanors in the last 5 years.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No careless or reckless driving convictions in the last 5 years.
No traffic tickets in the last 3 years.
Offers tuition reimbursement.
CTL Transportation
Felony offenses must be at least 10 years old.
Misdemeanor offenses must be at least 5 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No careless or reckless driving convictions in the last 5 years.
Offers tuition reimbursement.
C.R. England
Class A felony offense must be at least 10 years old.
Any felony conviction for GTA, armed robbery, carjacking, and assault with a deadly weapon must be older than 15 years.
Murder, Rape, and Kidnap are disqualifying offenses.
Must have been out of prison for at least 4 years.
No DUI convictions at all no matter the age.
Paid CDL training is available.
Dick Lavy Trucking
Felony offense must be at least 10 years old.
DeBoer Trucking
Felony offenses must be over 5 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
Newly qualified drivers must complete their training program.
Cannot have more than 2 moving violations on driving record in the last 2 years.
Don Hummer Trucking
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
You must not have any drug-related convictions during the past 5 years.
New drivers are only accepted after training at a partner school in Iowa.
Eagle Express Lines
Won’t hire you if you’ve ever had a DUI.
Must have a clean driving license
Cannot have a felony conviction for drug or alcohol-related offenses.
E.L Hollingsworth
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Offenses must be at least 5 years old.
Estenson Logistics
Felony offenses must be over 7 years old.
Cannot have any DUI convictions at all.
No positive drug or alcohol test ever.
No more than 2 moving violations on driving record.
First Fleet Inc
Felony offenses must be at least 7 years old.
No DUI, drug, or alcohol-related convictions in the last 5 years.
Must have at least 1 year of tractor-trailer experience.
G & P Trucking Company
Felony offenses must be at least 10 years old.
Cannot have any conviction for larceny or theft.
Groendyke Transport
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Must be at least 5-7 years old depending on the offense.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No moving violations in the last 3 years.
Must pass TSA background check.
Hornady Transportation
Felony offenses must be 7 years or older.
Must be eligible for HAZMAT endorsement.
Hunt Transportation
Felony offenses must be at least 10 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No positive drug test in the last 5 years.
HVH Transportation
Felony offenses must be at least 7 years old.
Must be eligible for HAZMAT endorsement.
JB Hunt
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
No drug or DUI convictions during the last 5 years.
Koch Trucking
Felony offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Offenses must be at least 5 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No more than 1 DUI in total, no matter the age.
Maverick
If accepted by this company, they will pay for your CDL training.
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
Melton Truck Lines
Felony offenses must be over 5 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
Mesilla valley Transportation
All offenses must be over 5 years old.
No DUI in the last 3 years.
No drug convictions.
If you’re newly qualified, you must complete their training program.
Navajo Express Inc
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Must not have any DUI conviction in the last 5 years.
Cannot have drug charges or convictions in the last 10 years.
Ozark Motor Lines
Must be 10 years past your end of probation or release date.
No DUI in the last 7 years.
No careless or reckless driving.
Newly qualified CDL holders must complete a training period.
PAM Transport
If you’re accepted, PAM offers a paid CDL training program.
Offenses are reviewed based on type, and how long ago the offense took place.
Cannot have a DUI in the last 5 years.
Paschall Truck Lines
Felony offenses must be over 5 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No more than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years.
Roehl Transport
Paid CDL training is available if you’re accepted.
Cannot have DUI convictions of any age.
No transportation-related offenses.
Other offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Tennant Truck Lines
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Must not have more than DUI convictions.
Trimac
All offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Any DUI must be over 10 years old.
CDL reimbursement is available.
Salmon Companies
Felony offenses must be more than 5 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No drug convictions in the last 10 years.
No positive BAC in the last 10 years.
No positive drug test in the last 15 years.
No license suspension in the last 3 years.
No moving violations in the last 3 years.
Must have tractor-trailer experience.
Must pass a federal background screening.
Schneider
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Must not have any drug or alcohol convictions in the last 5 years.
No more than 2 drug or alcohol offenses in total no matter their age.
Offers paid CDL training.
Southern Refrigerated Transport
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Offers paid CDL training.
Swift Transportation
Felony offenses must be over 10 years old.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
TMC Transportation
Felony offenses must be over 10 years old.
No DUI in the last 10 years.
No careless or reckless driving conviction in the last 5 years.
Tuition reimbursement is available.
Watkins Shepard
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
No DUI convictions within the last 5 years.
Waggoners Trucking Company
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Must have 5 years of stable employment post-release.
No DUI, drug, or alcohol-related convictions in the last 5 years.
WEL Companies
Offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
New drivers cannot have any offenses in the last 5 years.
Experienced drivers cannot have any felonies in the last 4 years or misdemeanors in the last 3 years.
Newly qualified drivers are hired on the WEL training program.
CDL tuition reimbursement for select schools.
Western Express
All offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Need an acceptable motor vehicle report.
No positive drug or alcohol tests ever.
XPO Logistics
All offenses are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Must have a clean driving record for the last 5 years.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
Must be eligible for HAZMAT endorsement.
Paid CDL training is available.
USA Truck
Offenses are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
U.S. Xpress Inc
Offenses are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
No DUI in the last 5 years.
No felony theft in the last 10 years.
Don’t Have Your CDL Yet?
If you’re still exploring the feasibility of a truck driving career and haven’t already obtained your commercial driver’s license (CDL) it’s a good idea to contact truck driving schools and find out if you’re likely to be hired by any of the trucking companies they’re connected with.
Some truck driving schools are owned by trucking companies and with these schools, once you pass the course, the trucking company hires you.
A quick phone call or email will get you the information you need about whether that trucking company is likely to hire you given your particular offense.
Other CDL schools are independent but they have relationships with trucking companies. Again, speaking to a school directly will give you the information you need.
But be aware that independent schools are in the business of making money. So if they tell you that you’ll be hired no problem if you train with them, ask which specific companies will hire you. Then call a recruiter for that company to double-check.
Another option you have for obtaining your CDL is via your state’s WIOA grant program. These grants can be used at approved CDL schools in your state.
Conclusion
Getting a job as a truck driver when you have a sexual offense on your record isn’t easy. The more serious your offense, the more difficult you’ll find your job search, and with the most serious offenses, it’s unlikely that any of the big companies will want to hire you.
You could have better luck with smaller trucking companies that may not carry out extensive background checks, and with local construction companies.
Before you spend any time or money on a CDL training school, make sure that you’ll be able to find a job once you’re qualified.
See Also: List Of Companies That Hire Sex Offenders
Robert Eric (a lover of Cats and Dogs) is the co-founder of HireFelonsJobs. In our search for a better life, after… A platform was created for the purpose of easing the search for ex-convicts.