Carriers Offering Second-Chance Opportunities

Trucking Companies Provide Employment Options for Those With Records

By HireMaster staff

Persons living with a criminal conviction on their record often find it difficult to land a good-paying job, but the trucking industry, with its constant search for drivers to fill open trucks, has been willing to give that segment of the population a second chance to succeed.

Later this month, there’s a job fair in Birmingham, Ala., specifically designed to help justice-involved individuals find meaningful work. The Second Chance Hiring Fair, hosted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, is scheduled for June 23 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Boutwell Auditorium.

More than 40 employers from various industries have committed to participate in the event. Representatives of the trucking industry have participated in similar events around the country. Trucking companies that do participate are vetted for their policies and genuine interest regarding the hiring of the justice-involved.

“Usually transportation, construction – anything dealing with driving and manual labor – tend to be more of the occupations and employers that are more accepting of people with a criminal background,” said Stephanie Hicks, director of the non-profit Offender Alumni Association in Birmingham. “It seems to be an industry you can go in and prove your worth.

“You’re not judged on what you’ve done, but how you can perform. What I’m finding with people who are coming home who have a felony conviction, once they’re given a clear opportunity to succeed the significant majority of them take it and run with it.”

In accordance with federal statutes, an employer can’t impose blanket restrictions on the hiring of candidates with a record. Most will look at the age and nature of the offense and how directly it’s related to the job before proceeding.

There is only one felony conviction that will permanent disqualify someone from holding a CDL – human trafficking.  Endorsements can be disqualified for convictions of, among other things, weapons violations, treason and smuggling, but the TSA has been known to grant waivers in some cases.

Company policies on hiring the justice-involved vary, of course. Most won’t hire if a felony conviction is less than five years old, although some will review them on a case-by-case basis.

According to Help For Felons, an organization devoted to helping felons return to the workforce, the following companies hire felons with convictions 10 years or more old: Swift, J.B. Hunt, Shaffer Trucking, Crete Carrier, Dick Lavy Trucking, CR England, Celadon, Dutch Maid Logistics, Hunt Transportation and JBS Carriers.

Companies that hire felons with convictions seven years or older include Roehl Transport, Melton Truck Lines, Stevens Transport, PGT Trucking, Falcon Transport, Knight Transportation, Tango Transport, Barr-Nunn Transportation, Groendyke Transport, Interstate Distributor Co.

And companies that hire with convictions five years or older include Boyd Brothers, Western Express, Transway Inc., TransAm Trucking, Paschall Truck Lines, Carolina Cargo, DeBoer Trucking Company, Florilli Transportation.

The following hire on a case-by-case basis: Werner Enterprises, Navajo Express, Millis Transfer, Conway Truckload, FFE, Schneider National, E.W. Wylie, Prime Inc., USA Truck, Maverick Transportation, US Express, Tyson Foods, Covenant Transport, Cardinal Logistics, Freymiller, Hirschbach, J&R Schugel and LCT Transportation.

Contact recruiters at any of those companies or check their respective websites for more information related to your situation.