I am a 35 year old African-American male. I have a 290 conviction from 1994. I am not a predator. I am off parole 2 years in January. I have changed my life around. In the last 6 years I have married a high school teacher, earned my high school diploma and my class A license. I have been re-certified as a forklift driver. I will never return to prison. My charge was serious, but if I knew what I know now, I would have never pled guilty to the charge. I was young, dumb, poor, and ill-equipped to deal with the charge against me. I feared going away for a long time, so l took the deal I was offered. No one told me that it would be this difficult getting a trucking job. I am desperate. I have a family that I need to help support. I am a man who has had troubles in his life, but I have gotten pass that, I have matured, and I have paid for my mistakes. I need a job. I am not asking to get rich, just to show my abilities and make a decent living. I am desperate for someone to give me a chance. I am willing to do ride-alongs. I am willing to load/unload. I don't care what the job is, I just want in the door. I need experience. I am a human being who has worked hard to get his life together. Please tell me that there is someone out there willing to help me. I am not lazy. I not a danger to society. I am a man with a family who needs to be given a chance to support my family. My daughter will be entering college in the Fall and I have to help support her. Isn't there anyone out there that will give me a chance. Short haul, long haul. Team driving. I'll take anything just to get experience.
Respectfully
Alonzo Rhodes
Fresno, CA

 

Macaroni,

There are some companies out there that will give you that "second chance" that you are seeking, but there are some considerations that must be addressed.

First, it would help to know something about the terms of your release. If you are currently under the supervision of a parole or probation officer, there may be some serious restrictions on your ability to travel. Additionally, being able to co-ordinate reporting requirements with anything more than a local driving job schedule could also prove to be very difficult as well.

Another factor to consider (and I will ask you to consider it very carefully ) is that the companies most likely to hire you will be what are called "out-law" operators. Often, their trucks are not properly maintained, drivers are pushed to run illegally, pay scales are poor, benefits are seriously lacking, and DOT has had problematic experiences with them. Add to that equation the fact that you are a convicted sex offender, and not only the company that you drive for, but you as well, become a target. Your past may indeed be in the past, but it is also out there in cyber-space, and will pop up on their computer screens in an instant. At that point, you will be viewed by them as bearing a certain presumption of guilt for any number of possible violations.

You speak as though you have spent a considerable amount of time working to put your life back together. I hope that you find success in your efforts.

I live in Texas, so I'm afraid that I can't help you the way that I would like too. I will tell you that I have dealt with hiring ex-offenders in the past, and in doing so, I have worked with some parole officers and probation officers. What I discovered is that some of them find a considerable degree of satisfaction in helping ex-offenders who are truly interested in helping themselves. Perhaps there is one out there in California who could help you.

Additionaly, a university which offers a criminology or criminal justice program or law school will sometimes have students who volunteer their services to different social agencies or organizations as part of their requirements for earning a degree, or building their resumes.

I do wish you the very best. you and your family will be in my prayers and meditations.

Peace,
Useless

 

 

I think it is great that you are trying to straighten out your life. California, at one time, had a program to assist felons to get into trucking. I don't recall all the particulars, but it might be something which you may want to check into. I have no idea if the program is still active or how successful it was. Other than that, just keep on knocking on doors, one will open for you. Good luck to you.

 

Mac,

I sent you a P/M

Be good, Jim

 

Don't have anything to add, other than you seem like a man who genuinely appreciates where you've been, how it has molded you, and your ability to turn yourself around. Not everyone is capable of doing that, and just from the way you present yourself, I can tell you are indeed succeeding.

I wish you only the best from here on out, Alonzo.

 

Alonzo check your PM.

 

Yo alonzo!

What a 290?

 

Yo alonzo!

What a 290?

 

Another brilliant post by Chad.