Several trucking companies actively hire drivers with felony records, though the type of conviction, how long ago it occurred, and the kind of freight you want to haul all affect which opportunities are open to you. The trucking industry faces a persistent driver shortage, which has made many carriers more willing to give second chances than employers in other fields. Getting hired is realistic, but you need to understand which doors are open, which are closed by federal law, and how to position yourself for the best outcome.
Carriers Known for Second-Chance Hiring
Most large carriers don’t publish a blanket “we hire felons” policy, but many evaluate applicants on a case-by-case basis rather than automatically disqualifying anyone with a record. TA Dedicated, for example, identifies itself as a fair chance and equal opportunity employer with no education requirements. Smaller and mid-size carriers are often even more flexible because they’re competing harder for drivers.
The carriers most likely to work with you tend to share a few traits: they run dry van or flatbed freight (not hazmat), they operate regionally or over the road within the U.S. (not cross-border), and they’re growing fast enough that filling seats matters more than rigid screening policies. When searching job boards, filter for phrases like “second chance,” “fair chance employer,” or “background friendly.” Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and niche trucking job sites regularly list these positions.
Owner-operators and small fleet owners with five to twenty trucks are another realistic path. These companies often care more about your driving record and work ethic than a background check score. Networking at truck stops, CDL schools, and reentry programs can connect you with these employers in ways that job boards cannot.
Convictions That Create Federal Barriers
No matter how willing a company is to hire you, certain convictions trigger restrictions set by the TSA and the Department of Transportation that the carrier cannot override. These restrictions mainly affect two credentials: the Hazmat endorsement on your CDL and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC card) needed to enter ports and secure rail yards.
A handful of felonies are permanently disqualifying for both credentials. These include espionage, treason, murder, crimes involving transportation security incidents, improper transportation of hazardous materials, and unlawful possession or use of explosives. If you have any of these on your record, you will not be approved for a Hazmat endorsement or a TWIC card, regardless of how much time has passed.
A longer list of felonies are disqualifying on an interim basis, meaning they block you only if the conviction happened within seven years of your application or you were released from incarceration within five years. These include felony weapons charges, robbery, arson, drug distribution, kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, assault with intent to kill, fraud and identity crimes, smuggling, and voluntary manslaughter. Once you’re past those time windows, the disqualification lifts and you can apply.
If your conviction doesn’t appear on either list, these federal restrictions don’t apply to you at all. And even if you can’t get a Hazmat endorsement or TWIC card, you can still drive. The vast majority of trucking freight, including dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed loads, requires neither credential. You just won’t be eligible for tanker/hazmat routes or loads that pick up or deliver inside secure port facilities.
What Your Driving Record Needs to Look Like
Companies care about two separate records: your criminal background and your driving history. Even the most felon-friendly carrier will turn you down if your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) is a mess. Most companies want to see no DUI or DWI convictions in the past three to five years, no more than two or three moving violations in the past three years, and no at-fault accidents in the recent past. A clean MVR gives you leverage to overcome a criminal background that might otherwise make a recruiter hesitate.
If your license was suspended or revoked, get it reinstated and drive clean for at least a year before applying for CDL training. That waiting period builds a track record recruiters can point to when making a hiring decision.
Getting Your CDL With a Record
You need a Commercial Driver’s License before any carrier will hire you, and a felony does not prevent you from earning one. CDL testing is administered by your state’s motor vehicle agency, and most states do not run criminal background checks as part of the licensing process. The test itself covers a written knowledge exam, a pre-trip vehicle inspection, and a road skills test.
The bigger challenge is paying for training, which typically costs $3,000 to $7,000 at a private school. Several paths can reduce or eliminate that cost. Company-sponsored CDL programs let you train for free in exchange for committing to drive for that carrier for a set period, usually one to two years. Some of these programs accept applicants with felony records, though they may require your conviction to be a certain number of years old.
Reentry-focused nonprofits also offer CDL training specifically for people with criminal records. The Center for Employment Opportunities, for instance, runs a free Class A and Class B CDL training program for justice-impacted individuals. Eligibility requires holding a standard driver’s license for at least one year, passing a DOT medical exam and drug screen (including marijuana), having a clean driving record with three or fewer points, and showing proof of recent employment for at least six months. Accepted applicants may also receive stipends, job coaching, and job placement support.
Workforce development boards funded through the federal WIOA program sometimes cover CDL training costs for eligible adults, and many of these programs serve people reentering the workforce after incarceration. Check with your local American Job Center for availability.
How Long Ago Your Conviction Matters
Time is your strongest asset. Most carriers that do hire felons set their own internal thresholds, commonly requiring that three, five, or seven years have passed since your conviction or release. A drug possession charge from eight years ago will get far less scrutiny than one from two years ago. Violent felonies and sex offenses face the longest lookback periods and the fewest willing employers, but even these are not universally disqualifying across the entire industry.
Some companies also distinguish between the type of felony. A nonviolent property crime or drug charge is viewed very differently from a violent offense. When you’re applying, be upfront about your record. Recruiters in trucking are accustomed to working with applicants who have backgrounds, and dishonesty on an application is a faster path to rejection than the conviction itself.
Types of Trucking Jobs to Target First
Your best odds come from targeting freight types and routes that don’t require security clearances. Dry van hauling is the largest segment of the industry and requires only a Class A CDL with no special endorsements. Flatbed work often pays more and is equally accessible. Refrigerated (reefer) freight is another option, though some food-grade loads require facility background checks at delivery points.
Regional and over-the-road (OTR) routes within the continental U.S. are the most open. Cross-border routes into Canada or Mexico are harder because both countries conduct their own criminal background screenings at the border, and Canada in particular is known for denying entry to individuals with felony records.
Local delivery and less-than-truckload (LTL) jobs with companies that serve retail or residential customers sometimes run stricter background checks because drivers interact directly with the public. Long-haul OTR positions, where you’re mostly on the highway and at truck stops, tend to have the most relaxed screening.
Steps to Improve Your Chances
Start by pulling your own driving record from your state’s DMV so you know exactly what employers will see. Resolve any outstanding tickets, fees, or suspensions before you apply anywhere. If your felony is old enough, check whether your state offers expungement or record sealing, which can remove the conviction from standard background checks entirely.
Gather documents that show stability: proof of address, employment history, and any certificates from reentry programs, vocational training, or substance abuse treatment. These don’t erase a conviction, but they give a recruiter evidence that you’re a lower-risk hire.
Apply broadly. Submit applications to ten or fifteen companies rather than pinning your hopes on one. Use the phone to follow up with recruiters directly. A conversation where you can explain your situation and demonstrate professionalism goes much further than a paper application sitting in a stack. Many drivers with felony records report that persistence, not the specific company name, was the deciding factor in getting their first seat.