Yes, there are a few trucking companies who are willing to give second chances, and whose insurance will allow them to hire you as long as the DUI/DWI conviction is at LEAST 3 years old from the date of CONVICTION, not arrest.
Finding trucking companies that hire drivers with multiple preventable accidents can be challenging, but some companies with more lenient hiring policies may consider such drivers, especially if the accidents occurred years ago and the driver has since demonstrated improved safety. Companies like Carolina Cargo, Western Express, and CR England are known for giving second chances to drivers with less-than-perfect records. Additionally, drivers can improve their chances by completing safety training programs, maintaining a clean record moving forward, and being transparent about their past while showing a commitment to better driving practices.
JB Hunt and Gordon Trucking did not merge in recent years. JB Hunt and Gordon Trucking are both individual companies. JB Hunt is a much larger company than Gordon Trucking.
ABF has bought out several trucking companies throughout the years. Offhand, the first one I can think of is Carolina.
They've purchased several throughout their many years of existence. Carolina is one trucking company they bought out.
Swift Transportation has acquired several trucking companies over the years, including Central Refrigerated Service in 2013, and later, the acquisition of the larger Knight Transportation in a merger in 2017. These acquisitions aimed to expand Swift's fleet and service offerings. The merger with Knight Transportation created one of the largest trucking companies in North America, enhancing their operational capabilities and market reach.
You will need to contact the trucking companies for which you are interested in working. Some will only go back three years when checking records, but others may ask if you have ever had a suspended license.
Pape Transfer is a trucking company located in Dubuque, Iowa. They do shipping work for companies from small locals to Fortune 500 companies. In business over 50 years.
There are trucking companies that don't require experience. They don't pay very well and you'll get an old truck, but if you run around the country for a couple years and have no accidents or tickets you can get a job with one of the premium carriers pretty easily.
Within the first three years of your conviction, you're pretty much untouchable. Four to five years, your chances look slightly better. Six to seven years, it can still affect you, but you should be able to make due at this point.
Yes, you do need a special license for long-haul trucking. Long haul truck drivers also need be clear of DUI convictions in the last 5 years and will need to pass a DOT physical and drug screening.
I am from Philadelphia and was a commercial truck driver for over 18 years. If you have 2 DUI's you CAN'T ever get a CDL! It is very hard to get a CDL if you have one DUI. With the economy still in a recession with high unemployment, it is not easy to get a job in trucking. There are more drivers than freight nationwide. If your MVR is not clean, you will be at a strong disadvantage. The trucking companies are cherry picking anybody they want now-they are in the driver's seat!
US Express has an all-automatic Fleet. Other companies that have them are Mcleod,Maverick,P.A.M. and others. I have been told that in 2-3 years, all large carriers will have automatic fleets.