Jobs with a record
Trucking jobs for people with records
Truck driving and CDL jobs, where federal driving and drug-testing rules apply on top of each company's policy. Of the 7 employers here, 0 have publicly committed to hiring people with records and 7 haven't published any policy.
Last checked October 22, 2026.
| Employer | Stance | Background check | When | Drug test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coca-ColaFood distribution | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| J.B. HuntTrucking | Not published | For some roles | Not published | Yes |
| Knight-SwiftTrucking | Not published | For some roles | Not published | For some roles |
| SchneiderTrucking | Not published | For some roles | Not published | For some roles |
| SyscoFood distribution | Not published | Yes | After a job offer | Yes |
| WernerTrucking | Not published | For some roles | Not published | For some roles |
| XPOTrucking | Not published | Not published | Not published | For some roles |
Rules that apply to this work
- Under federal rules, a person with a CDL or commercial learner's permit who is convicted of using a vehicle to commit a felony can't drive a commercial vehicle for 1 year, or 3 years if they were driving a commercial vehicle carrying hazardous materials. Some felonies, and a second conviction for any of the major offenses in the same federal table, mean a lifetime disqualification.1This applies whether the vehicle used was a commercial vehicle or a personal one. Using a vehicle in a felony involving making, distributing or dispensing a controlled substance, or using a commercial vehicle in a felony involving severe forms of human trafficking, means a lifetime disqualification with no chance of reinstatement. A second conviction leads to a lifetime disqualification when it comes from a separate incident. For the other lifetime disqualifications in the table, a state may reinstate a driver after 10 years if the driver voluntarily completed a state-approved rehabilitation program; a driver who is reinstated and later convicted of another of those offenses can't be reinstated again. Every offense in this federal table involves a vehicle: the others are driving offenses such as driving under the influence, refusing an alcohol test, leaving the scene of an accident and causing a death through negligent driving of a commercial vehicle.
- Before a new employer can let a CDL driver drive a commercial vehicle, it generally must get a verified negative pre-employment drug test result and must run a full check of FMCSA's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which needs the driver's consent.2,3,4,5,6,7The Clearinghouse is a federal database that drug and alcohol program violations are reported to, including verified positive, adulterated or substituted drug test results, alcohol test results of 0.04 or higher, and test refusals. Employers must also check it at least once a year for drivers they already employ. If a driver refuses to consent to a check, the employer can't let the driver do safety-sensitive work such as driving. A driver with a violation can't do that work until completing the return-to-duty process: an evaluation, referral and education or treatment through a substance abuse professional, and a negative return-to-duty test. Since November 18, 2024, when a state licensing agency is notified that a CDL or permit holder is prohibited from driving a commercial vehicle, it must downgrade the license within 60 days; if state law allows, the driver can become eligible to get the commercial privilege back once FMCSA tells the state the driver is no longer prohibited. A driver can petition FMCSA to correct administrative errors in their Clearinghouse record, such as a data-entry mistake or a duplicate report, but can't use that process to challenge whether a test result or refusal was accurate.
- To get a TWIC card, which workers need for access to secure areas of the nation's maritime facilities and vessels, you must pass a TSA background check. A short list of felonies, such as espionage, treason, terrorism, murder and certain explosives crimes, is permanently disqualifying, though TSA can waive some of these. A longer list, including drug distribution, robbery, fraud, firearms crimes and arson, disqualifies you only if you were convicted within 7 years of applying or released from incarceration within 5 years of applying.8,9,10,11,12The lists are in the federal TWIC rule, 49 CFR 1572.103, and being found not guilty by reason of insanity also counts. Under TSA's definitions, a conviction includes a guilty or no-contest plea, but not a conviction that was overturned on appeal, pardoned or expunged, or a case that was dismissed after you were allowed to withdraw a guilty or no-contest plea. Welfare fraud and passing bad checks don't count as disqualifying fraud. Being wanted or under indictment for a listed felony disqualifies you until the warrant is released or the indictment is dismissed. If TSA's check finds an arrest for a listed crime with no outcome recorded, you have 60 days after TSA's notice to send written proof that the arrest didn't end in a conviction. Under the TWIC rules, TSA can also find someone to be a security threat because of extensive convictions, a serious crime not on the lists, or more than 365 days in a row in prison. TSA's separate "Disqualifying Offenses and Other Factors" page, which mentions TSA PreCheck applicants, lists voluntary manslaughter as an interim offense; the TWIC rule's list does not include it.
- If TSA finds a disqualifying offense, you can ask for a waiver for any permanent or interim disqualifying offense except espionage, sedition, treason or a federal crime of terrorism (or conspiracy to commit one of them). You can request an appeal, a waiver or both.8,13,14,15TSA's FAQ says you have 60 days from receiving its letter to respond or to ask for more time. An appeal is for showing that you do meet the standards, for example because a record TSA relied on is wrong. Under the rules, a waiver request can be made any time up to 60 days after TSA's Final Determination. For a waiver, TSA looks at the circumstances of the offense, any restitution you made, federal or state mitigation remedies (such as certificates showing you completed court-ordered substance abuse or other treatment), and other factors showing you are not a security threat, including evidence of rehabilitation. TSA is to decide within 60 days of your request unless it sets a longer time for good cause, and a denied waiver can be reviewed further under 49 CFR 1515.11.
Programs that help employers say yes
- The Federal Bonding Program, set up by the U.S. Department of Labor in 1966, gives employers fidelity bonds when they hire job seekers whose backgrounds make it hard to get or keep a job, including people with criminal records. The bond covers the first six months of the job at no cost to the worker or the employer.16,17A fidelity bond is insurance that pays the employer back, with no deductible, for loss of money or property caused by an employee's dishonest acts, such as theft, forgery, larceny or embezzlement. The Department of Labor's program page doesn't give a dollar amount. A 2013 Department of Labor notice says bonds can be issued for $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 or $25,000, depending on the job's risk, and that $5,000 of coverage is enough for most job placements. That notice lists groups who can be bonded, including people with criminal records, people in recovery from alcohol or drug use, people getting TANF assistance, people with poor credit, low-income young people and adults with little or no work history, and people dishonorably discharged from the military. The worker must be an employee paid wages with federal taxes taken out; self-employed people are not eligible. After the six months, the notice says coverage can continue through another bond from an American Job Center or placement agency, or the employer can buy a bond at the regular commercial rate if no claim was paid for the worker's dishonesty.
- To get a bond, contact your state's bonding coordinator or a local American Job Center. A 2013 Department of Labor notice lists the program's toll-free line as 1-800-233-2258.16,17That 2013 notice says every state has a bonding coordinator, that bonds in most states come through the state workforce agency, and that states make bonds available to American Job Centers and other placement agencies. Coverage starts on your first day of work and lasts six months. Bonds can also cover people already on the job who need bonding to avoid a layoff or to get a transfer or promotion. The program's website, which the Department of Labor links to, is bonds4jobs.com.
- WOTC applies only to people who began work on or before December 31, 2025. As of October 22, 2026, the IRS and Department of Labor WOTC pages still give that end date and don't say the credit has been renewed.18,19,20,21The IRS's WOTC page (last reviewed or updated July 20, 2026) says the credit is available for certain people who begin work on or before December 31, 2025, and the Department of Labor's WOTC page says WOTC is authorized until that date. The IRS's Form 8850 page (last reviewed March 20, 2026) says the form is no longer in use. Arizona's workforce agency says that as of January 1, 2026, Congress had not renewed WOTC, and that it is still accepting applications and holding them to process if Congress renews the program. Check the IRS or Department of Labor page for the current status before bringing it up with an employer.
- CareerOneStop (careeronestop.org), a career training and job search website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, has a section for job seekers with criminal records.22,23A Department of Labor reentry resources page describes this CareerOneStop portal as providing information, career guidance resources and tools to people with criminal records. The same page links to a CareerOneStop tool for finding a reentry program near you.
- There are about 2,300 American Job Centers across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which coordinates the system. They are designed to give job seekers a full range of help in one place.24,25Services include career counseling, job listings, job search help, job referrals and training referrals, and you can visit a center in person or connect online. The Department of Labor says the system gives specialized attention and service to justice-involved people, among other groups. Some services have eligibility requirements, so check with your local center. You can find a center with CareerOneStop's American Job Center Finder or by calling the Department of Labor's toll-free help line, 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).
Policies change and can differ by location and role. Each employer page links to the company's own words and the date we checked them. Your background check rights
Sources
Each source was opened and checked on October 22, 2026.
- 49 CFR 383.51: Disqualification of driverseCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 382.301: Pre-employment testingeCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 382.701: Drug and Alcohol ClearinghouseeCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 382.703: Driver consent to permit access to information in the ClearinghouseeCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 382.705: Reporting to the ClearinghouseeCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 383.73: State procedureseCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 382.717: Procedures for correcting information in the databaseeCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 1572.103: Disqualifying criminal offenseseCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 1570.3: Terms used in this subchaptereCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 1572.107: Other analyseseCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)Transportation Security Administration
- Disqualifying Offenses and Other FactorsTransportation Security Administration
- TWIC Frequently Asked QuestionsTransportation Security Administration
- 49 CFR 1515.7: Procedures for waiver of criminal offenses, immigration status, or mental capacity standardseCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- 49 CFR 1515.5: Appeal of Initial Determination of Threat Assessment based on criminal conviction, immigration status, or mental capacityeCFR (National Archives, Office of the Federal Register)
- Federal Bonding ProgramU.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- Training and Employment Notice No. 14-13: Promoting the Use of the Federal Bonding Program as a Valuable Job Placement Tool When Assisting At-Risk Job Seekers (December 9, 2013)U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- Work Opportunity Tax CreditInternal Revenue Service
- Work Opportunity Tax CreditU.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- Form 8850 is no longer in useInternal Revenue Service
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) ProgramArizona Department of Economic Security
- Training and Employment Notice No. 07-20: Resources for Serving Youth and Adults Involved with the Justice System (November 23, 2020)U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- Resources (Reentry)U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- American Job CentersU.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- American Job CentersU.S. Department of Labor