Logistics Emplyment Openings
Trucking is one field where ex-cons can make fairly good money despite a criminal record. Depending on the circumstances of the conviction, or your ability to get licensed and go out of state, there may be a lot of options open behind the wheel or supporting vehicles..
NOTE: Some CDL Truck Driving Schools may tell you that you can get a job with any conviction. This is not always the case, and you need to ask around before spending money (or getting a loan) for a CDL if you can't be bonded or insured. Trucking companies have to insure their cargo and their drivers, and some convictions are going to disqualify you, so you should find out which convictions would disqualify you from which jobs. For example, a career burglar might not get work in a warehouse, and a person with vehicular offenses might not be hired as a driver under any circumstances. This doesn't mean that you could not be a forklift driver, mechanic, or even a shipping clerk. Nonetheless, there are a lot of different positions in the world, and some of them did not exist just a few years ago. Logistics and transportation companies need everything from computer operators to warehouse clerks as well as people who may get their start putting things in boxes and move up the chain of responsibility.
Trucking Companies Hire Good Workers
One thing that distinghes trucking and logistics jobs from white-collar work is that there is the need for strength and manual labor. Containers need to be loaded, pallets packed, and shipments may need to be broken up for shipping to various points foreign and domestic. For former felons, and people with a record, the trucking field is often one of the most welcoming for ex-cons, and the stigma of incarceration is not as common on the work floor as it would be just about anywhere else. If you can do interstate driving and get a driver's license, your options for making good pay are about the same as any other driver entering the field. Remember, behind every driver is an elite crew of specialists including mechanics, maintenance, offloading, warehouse, and packaging specialists. At minimum, someone's got to sweep the floor in the warehouse and shovel the snow, but most often people who have left prison report that trucking jobs are some of the most desirable, and are almost as easy to get as food service employment but with higher wages.
Be Dependable and Reliable
Whether you are going for independent or franchised trucking jobs, reliability is key. In the logistics world things can be very busy at some times, so showing up on time and ready to work will ensure continued employment. This cannot be overemphasized, because you can lose jobs like this for being "unlucky" since there are others in your position who may be competing for the same chance. In the interview process, emphasize your reliability and your commitment to the job, overtime, and the demands associated with moving heavy objects and working around big vehicles. Even in the truck driving world, it pays to have a certain level of education to get ahead, so if you can take courses prior to release, or get a GED or associates degree, you may be better off when looking for employment. Once again, finding help through placement programs for ex-cons is often a better deal than applying in person.