Question:
Hello out there,name's Pat. I think this will be about the tenth time I have gone too
the local truck stop too pick up all of those free books that show the job offer's from various trucking companies lol. Only this time I think I am going too take the plunge.
First off I love driving,I used to do courier work with PG&E,and it was not uncommon to put in about 500 too 600 miles of driving in one day using my little pick up. I am single with no childrenI see this as a big plus for this type of work.
I see two thing's that will work as a huge obstacle as far as finding work with a good companie,in 1994 and 1996 I was convicted of transportation of marijuana which is a feloney. The first time I had 12.5 grams of bud in two different bag's,They hit me with the felony because of the two bags. The second conviction was for shipping some bud cross country. Now Back then I really enjoyed the quick money made by doing these thing's,unfortunatley it took two conviction's to wise my dumb (edited) up. So fast forward too now,and I can happily say that I have not gotten as much as a moving violation since 1996. My DMV print out comes out clean,and I have no dui's.
So am I screwed? Or is the fact that I have stayed out of trouble for a fair amount of time going to help me at all. Thanks for your responses in advance,.

Answer:

Pretty much so. There aren't many large companies that will touch you with your record.
On the other hand, there are plenty of 'mom & pop" outfits that might give you a shot if you can convince them that you have "rehabilitated yourself" (Alice's Restaurant). Talk with the various companies before you spend any money on a license.

Answer:
Mod's sorry about the cuss,wont hapen again.
Phil,thank you for your answer,would getting these felony's dropped to misdemeanor's help?
Also what do you mean by Alices restaurant?
To be honest with you ,I would have no problem working for a small company,I would realy like to work somewhere that has a positive team like enviroment..

Answer:

It's a song from the sixties by this fella name Arlo Guthrie. Pretty funny. THere's a line in it where the "hero" gets asked if he feels he's been rehabilitated after getting arrested for being a litterbug.
Answer:
Check with the department of corrections out there in California. There is, or at least used to be, a company that would hire ex-felons as truck drivers.
Beyond that your only hope would be if you could get your record expunged. Most trucking companies take a very dim view when it comes to drug convictions of any kind.
Answer:
Having felonies dropped to misdemeanors would certainly help but considering that they're "drug related", the best bet would be to have them expunged from your record, if possible.
The Alice's Restaurant reference is for those old farts, like myself, who remember Woodstock and Arlo Guthrie. It's a long musical story but the punch line, as the hero sat on the Group W bench waiting to get drafted into the Army was, "Kid!!! Have you rehabilitated yourself???".

Answer:

If I were you, and I'm not, I would try to get them expunged off your record completely. Here in NC you can pay some big $$$ and get one off your record if it has been over a period of time. I am not sure how much time to be exact.
But to my real point, why other than the money were you transporting marijuana? 12.5 oz could be delivering/ trafficking/ or manufacturing. You got off lucky with just the possession or transporting. Did you do any time for this?
I hope you the best and hope your days off transporting said narcotics are over, but I can't think of any company getting you on. Your days of ever going to Canada are over as well. Just the nature of playing with that "beast."This is USAF 2T2 and I approve this message.

Answer:

Gotcha,I thought it might be a reference to Mel's diner or something

Answer:

Thanks for the info uturn.

Answer:

There is a chance (very dim chance mind you) That after ten years of the conviction that I could get a governmental pardon,So I might try and ask Arnold if he can get my record terminated pun intended.

Answer:

Judging by your handle,I will assume that you were in the Air force,if so Thank you for putting your but on the line to keep us civi's safe.
The amount I was caught with was actually 12.5 gram's less than a half ounce,I did not want to mix the two because of quality differences.
As too why,the only honest answer I could give is that I was just being really stupid. I have no desire to put my familiy through the hell I created for them when I got in trouble,so I have been drug free,and trouble free since 96,and It is gonna stay that way. Beside's,I'm hooked on cigar's now lol. Thanks for the well wishes sir.

Answer:
Since your a felon and have been rehabilitated the workforce counsel or JTPA or whoever they are now will train you in a variety of fields free of charge. I would check with your local job office and explore all possibilitites before spending a long time looking for a job you may not be able to get.

Answer:
Pat,
I agree with Stuffs, which no doubt shocks the hell out of us both (long story )
Best case, you get a USA trucking job, you get nailed taking a load into Canada (different criminal history laws).
Life deals us different cards at different points in time... in your case, you got bad cards, don't waste any time on trucking. You might work your way around it in the short term, but it would always be over your shoulder waiting to bite you in the azz.
____________________________________________________________________
Mark; does not think you should be penalized further, but does not write the laws
Edit: Any chemistry student knows that there are 28 grams in an ounce...

Answer:
I have to agree with Phil and Stuffs.
Your odds of getting on with a reputable company are slim to none.

Answer:
"Your odds of getting on with a reputable company are slim to none."
It's a sad state of affairs when a "reputable" company is one that utilizes an applicants political persuasion of 10 years ago to maintain the ridiculous pretense of safety. All you really have to do is pass a pizztest......
Like Phil also said:
"On the other hand, there are plenty of 'mom & pop" outfits that might give you a shot if you can convince them that you have "rehabilitated yourself" (Alice's Restaurant). Talk with the various companies before you spend any money on a license."
If they become misdemeanors, you don't have to even mention them right??
Don't mind the anti-pot crusaders........they're generally too young or too uninformed to have an intelligent take on drugs and driving. They're mostly alcoholics and you know how obnoxious they quickly become.
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