Drug Conviction And Cdl

Ted Decker trk said:

One of my regular customers has a younger guy working. He was convicted of felony drug possession awhile back. Long story , kid had a rough life, got hooked on drugs, screwed his life up, got caught and did time. He got clean, turned himself around and is on the right track. He's trained as a heavy equipment operator but says he can't get work because he can't get a CDL. I seem to remember they FMCSA and DOT changed the regulations not long ago. Used to be felony conviction = no CDL, correct? I thought they had modified that position. I'm just trying to help the kid out but I'm not familiar with this part of our industry in terms of regs and rules. Can someone explain it to me or point me to the correct regs?

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pro1driver said:

i think the felony conviction disallows him to get a TWIC card..it's usually the employers that either hire or not, former felons.

i say all he has to do is apply at any CDL and not even mention the felony. i taught at 2 CDL schools here in my state, and this is what i can recall, that a felony conviction WHEN A PERSON HAD a CDL, can be detrimental to obtaining a reinstatment.

this also goes with how long ago was he convicted? and the severity, as felonies are classed by the crime.

many employers have time limits on hiring ex-felons..some are 3 years, 5, 10...or a lifetime ban from being hired.

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Ted Decker trk said:

One of my regular customers has a younger guy working. He was convicted of felony drug possession awhile back. Long story , kid had a rough life, got hooked on drugs, screwed his life up, got caught and did time. He got clean, turned himself around and is on the right track. He's trained as a heavy equipment operator but says he can't get work because he can't get a CDL. I seem to remember they FMCSA and DOT changed the regulations not long ago. Used to be felony conviction = no CDL, correct? I thought they had modified that position. I'm just trying to help the kid out but I'm not familiar with this part of our industry in terms of regs and rules. Can someone explain it to me or point me to the correct regs?

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20_yrs_2_go said:

Short and to the point
It's true the regs have been changed but not for the better. PSP has been added and more and more employees are reading what's on it. Some employers don't care if the prison and drugs was 50 yrs ago because it's the insurance companies who get to decide add in the arrest and the story behind it
A good paying job might be out of reach

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Ted Decker trk said:

PSP?

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20_yrs_2_go said:

PSP is part of the new CSA regs that will list all violations,drug info, and arrests because some states didn't report out of truck violations so you could say the gov took care of that loophole

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Ted Decker trk said:

Thanks

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pro1driver said:

i think the felony conviction disallows him to get a TWIC card..it's usually the employers that either hire or not, former felons.

i say all he has to do is apply at any CDL and not even mention the felony. i taught at 2 CDL schools here in my state, and this is what i can recall, that a felony conviction WHEN A PERSON HAD a CDL, can be detrimental to obtaining a reinstatment.

this also goes with how long ago was he convicted? and the severity, as felonies are classed by the crime.

many employers have time limits on hiring ex-felons..some are 3 years, 5, 10...or a lifetime ban from being hired.

Click to expand...