Trucking Companies that Hire Felons and How to Get the Job

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.

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:

• Can a felon get a CDL?
• What are some truck driving companies that hire felons?
• Are there trucking companies that hire felons with no experience?
• What are some trucking companies that hire felons and train?
• Where can I find trucking companies that hire felons on probation?

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 felons

You’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:

• Trucking companies that hire felons (both national and regional)

• Overviews of some of the biggest companies in the industry

• Lists of trucking companies that hire felons after 5 years, 7 years or 10 years of being released from prison

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 felons

First, 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:

• UPS
• Schneider National
• Swift Transportation
• Werner Enterprises
• Prime Inc.
• C.R. England
• Knight Transportation
• Celadon
• Crete Carrier
• Cardinal Logistics
• Barr-Nunn Transportation
• Britton Transport
• Carolina Cargo
• Covenant Transport
• DeBoer Trucking Company
• Dutch Maid Logistics
• EW Wylie
• Falcon Transport
• FFE
• Florilli Transportation
• Freymiller
• Gardner
• Groendyke Transport
• Hill Brothers Transportation
• Hunt Transportation
• Interstate Distributor Co.
• J & R Schugel
• J.B. Hunt
• LCT Transportation
• Magnum Logistics
• McKelvey Trucking
• Melton Truck Lines
• National Carriers
• Navajo Express
• PGT Trucking
• Roehl Transport
• Shaffer Trucking
• Stevens Transport
• Western Express
• Tango Transport
• TMC Transport
• Maverick Transportation
• Tyson Foods
• USA Truck
• Hirschbach Motor Lines
• Paschall Truck Lines

Regional trucking companies that hire felons

These companies cover specific regions in the US:

• Boyd Brothers {Eastern}
• Dick Lavy Trucking {Eastern}
• Millis Transfer {Southeast, Central, Midwest and Northeast}
• Transway Inc. {Upper Midwest}
• TransAm Trucking {Midwest, Mid-South, Northeast and Southeast}

UPS

You 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They consider former felons for employment on a case-by-case basis.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. Background checks are a standard part of their hiring process.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Yes. It looks like they are very thorough when it comes to learning about a driver’s background.
• Do they drug test? Possibly. Our sources indicated that many (but not all) locations required a pre-employment drug screening.

Schneider National

If 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They consider former felons for employment on a case-by-case basis.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. Background checks are a standard part of their hiring process.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Yes. It looks like they ask about and investigate your criminal history and driving record.
• Do they drug test? Yes. They do a hair follicle drug screen and a urinalysis.

Swift Transportation

According 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They are willing to hire former felons whose offenses are over 10 years old.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. It looks like background checks are conducted on most applicants.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Yes. They ask about traffic accidents, violations and convictions from the last five years.
• Do they drug test? Yes. Our sources indicate they do a urinalysis at least, and sometimes a hair follicle test.

Werner Enterprises

According 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They consider former felons for employment on a case-by-case basis.
• Do they do background checks? Most likely. 65% of the employees surveyed by indeed.com mentioned a background check.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Yes. Their application form asks about current charges and prior convictions. However, they also state that a prior conviction does not automatically disqualify you from employment.
• Do they drug test? Yes. They have all potential drivers go through a urinalysis.

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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They consider former felons for employment on a case-by-case basis.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. However, online reports say this doesn’t necessarily mean you’re barred from a job if you have a record.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Yes. They ask about traffic accidents, violations and convictions from the last five years.
• Do they drug test? Yes. They mainly use a urinalysis for drug testing.

C.R. England

C.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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They are willing to hire former felons whose offenses are over 10 years old.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. It looks like they will inquire about your background.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? We’re unsure. The form on their website for people interested in applying asks about accidents, moving violations and reckless driving violations.
• Do they drug test? Yes. They usually do a urinalysis, and sometimes do a hair follicle test as well.

Knight Transportation

Knight 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They are willing to hire former felons whose offenses are over seven years old.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. Background checks are a standard part of their hiring process.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Yes. They ask about traffic accidents, violations and convictions from the last three years.
• Do they drug test? Yes. They usually do a urinalysis, and sometimes do a hair follicle test as well.

Celadon

Celadon 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They are willing to hire former felons whose offenses are over 10 years old.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. It looks like background checks are conducted on most applicants.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Yes. They ask about traffic accidents, violations and convictions from the last three years.
• Do they drug test? Yes. They usually do a urinalysis, and sometimes do a hair follicle test as well.

Crete Carrier

According 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They are willing to hire former felons whose offenses are over 10 years old.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. It looks like they will inquire about your background.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? Probably. The form on their website for people interested in applying mentions driving record, work history, alcohol-related offenses and positive drug screens.
• Do they drug test? Yes. They mainly use a urinalysis for drug testing.

Cardinal Logistics

Cardinal 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.

• Do they hire felons? Yes. They consider former felons for employment on a case-by-case basis.
• Do they do background checks? Yes. Background checks are a standard part of their hiring process.
• Do they ask about offenses on their application? We’re unsure, but it seems likely, based on information from our sources.
• Do they drug test? Yes. It sounds like they have a standard drug test procedure in place.

Trucking companies that hire recent felons

While 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:

• UPS
• Schneider National
• Werner Enterprises
• Prime Inc.
• Cardinal Logistics
• Britton Transport
• Covenant Transport
• EW Wylie
• FFE
• Freymiller
• Gardner
• J & R Schugel
• LCT Transportation
• Magnum Ltd.
• Mills Transfer
• Navajo Express
• Maverick Transportation
• Tyson Foods
• USA Truck
• Hirschbach Motor Lines
• Paschall Truck Lines

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 years

Many 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:

• Boyd Brothers
• Carolina Cargo
• DeBoer Trucking Company
• Florilli Transportation
• Western Express
• Transway Inc.
• TransAm Trucking

Trucking companies that hire felons after 7 years

Here are some companies which will consider hiring you once your felony is over seven years old:

• Knight Transportation
• Barr-Nunn Transportation
• Falcon Transport
• Groendyke Transport
• Interstate Distributor Co.
• Melton truck Lines
• PGT Trucking
• Roehl Transport
• Stevens Transport
• Tango Transport

Trucking companies that hire felons after 10 years

These companies will consider hiring you after your felony is over 10 years old:

• Swift Transportation
• C.R. England
• Celadon
• Crete Carrier
• Dick Lavy Trucking
• Dutch Maid Logistics
• J.B. Hunt
• Shaffer Trucking
• TMC Transport

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 probation

The 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:

1. Several of the companies above require your felony to be several years old before they’ll consider hiring you. So, you’re not likely to get a job with those companies. However, we would definitely recommend speaking with the companies which hire on a case-by-case basis.Those companies are listed in the section above: Trucking companies that hire recent felons.
2. Also, be sure to check with local trucking companies in your area. They are often in need of good help and may be more willing to give you a chance.Check out the section below, “Local trucking companies that hire felons”, for more info.
3. It’s always best to check with your probation officer when looking for employment. Make sure they’re aware (and they approve) of the amount of traveling you’ll have to do as a truck driver.For example, if a route requires you to go out of state, you may need to get permission or a travel pass. Or, if you’ll be gone for extended periods of time, you may need to make special arrangements for visiting with your PO.

Trucking companies that hire felons with no experience

If 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:

• C.R. England
• Werner Enterprises
• Schneider National
• Stevens Transport
• Maverick Transportation
• Swift Transportation
• J.B. Hunt

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:

• How can a felon get a CDL?
• Where can a felon get a CDL?

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:

• driving-tests.org
• cdltest.co
• thetruckersreport.com

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 train

Many 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:

• Schneider National
• Swift Transportation
• Prime Inc.
• Celadon
• Falcon Transport
• Roehl Transport
• Tyson Foods
• USA Truck

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 felons

The 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 industry

Not 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:

• Violent offenses: Some employers are hesitant to hire people with violent offenses on their record. While it isn’t fair to assume everyone with a violent offense is unstable or unreliable, having such an offense could make finding a driving job difficult.
• Vehicular offenses: Many of these will stop you from getting a CDL, plus your employer will question your ability to do the job.
• Alcohol- and drug-related offenses: If your offense involved an accident related to alcohol abuse, this will raise a red flag with many companies. You’re also likely to have a hard time finding a driving job if your offense involved the transportation, use or distribution of a controlled substance.
• Theft offenses: Trucking companies take offenses involving theft very seriously. They’re trusting you to deliver valuable cargo, so having a theft-related conviction could be a major strike against you.
• Sex offenses: If your registration restricts where you can travel, that will limit the jobs you can take on. Also, many companies are wary of hiring people with this type of offense.

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 felons

Getting 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:

• Check out our advice on putting together an incredible resume.
• Take a CDL training course. Your local Career Center may know of one (or several) in your area.
• Get extra certifications on your license. Consider taking the test to get your Haz-Mat certification or to haul doubles to make yourself a better candidate.
• Emphasize your relevant experience. If you have any experience as a driver, let them know. If you’ve worked for a trucking company as a dock or warehouse worker, be sure to mention that, too.
• If you’ve had delivery jobs in the past (even if it wasn’t driving a semi), highlight that info on your application.
• A clean driving record goes a long way when it comes to getting hired with trucking companies. If you’re a great driver, be sure to brag about yourself!
• Emphasize character traits like being hard-working, detail-oriented, able to follow directions, dedicated and honest.
• Be honest and straightforward in your interview. Many of the people who interview you will be truck drivers who have been promoted from within the company. They tend to be straight-to-the-point, no-nonsense guys.
• Be respectful. Just because you want to be a truck driver doesn’t mean you should cuss like one in your interview. Watch your language.
• If asked about your past, be honest, but emphasize how you’ve grown through your experiences. They want to know you’re going to be trustworthy, reliable and dedicated. Their customers are relying on them, so they need to know they can rely on you.

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.