Many Trucking companies are known to be felon friendly and are willing to hire former felons. Swift Transportation is one of the largest trucking company in the country, but do they hire someone with a felony record? Let’s find the answer.
Does Swift hire Felons?
Short Answer: Yes, Swift Transportation does hire felons. They will consider felonies on a case-by-case basis and are known to hire felons with convictions that are 10 or more years old. The hiring decision also depends on certain factor like the nature of the felony.
Swift has hired truck drivers with felonies in the past. This does not mean they will hire all felons.
They will consider every applicant on a case-by-case basis. A conviction will not automatically disqualify any applicant.
It is essential to be honest about your background on the application. Applicants have to pass a background check to be able to work for Swift.
Whether or not they will hire someone with a criminal history will depend on certain factors like – the nature of the offense, time since the last felony, relevancy of the offense, etc.
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How to Get a Job with a Felony Record
Nature of the Offense – Those convicted of crimes involving theft, violence, and other serious offenses have a lower chance of getting hired.
Time since the last felony – Another important factor that is considered is the amount of time that has passed since the last felony conviction. If the felony is over 10 years old, it is less likely to be a problem.
Relevancy of the Offense – The relevance of the offense to the job position will also play a huge role in the hiring decision. For example, someone convicted of multiple DUIs will have a low probability of gaining employment as this is a driving related offense. It might not be an issue while applying for other jobs.
Does Swift hire Misdemeanors?
While there is no specific policy towards hiring felons or people with misdemeanors, they have hired felons in the past. So, they will probably hire people with misdemeanor as well, but again it will be on a case-by-case basis.
Does Swift Transportation do background checks?
Yes, Swift does perform pre-employment background checks on potential employees before making a hiring decision. You have to consent to a background check during the application.
A criminal background check can consist of an individual’s criminal history, educational records, address history, previous employment records, credit report, motor driving record, etc.
Pre-employment background checks are conducted by companies to verify the details mentioned by the applicant in the application form and to assess if the candidate is suitable for the job.
It is essential to be completely honest on the application form. If the application asks about your felony conviction, it is probably a good idea to disclose all your convictions.
If a record is not disclosed but later shows up on a background check will likely result in disqualification.
Also, if your record is brought up during the interview be open and let the interviewer/hiring manager know how you have changed since that time and explain your case.
Let them know the hard work you have put in to have a better future by highlighting the work you have done post your release, the skills you have acquired, any voluntary work, or causes you may have been part of.
How far back does the background checks go?
Generally, background checks go back 7 years depending on the state. In some selected states, employers only consider records that are less than 7 years old while some states don’t have any such limit. So, it is important to be aware of your state and local laws.
About Swift Transportation
Swift is a trucking company based in Phoenix, Arizona that provides Transportation and Logistics Services. Founded in 1996, it currently has over 22,000+ drivers in its fleet.
You can consider applying at Swift whether you are an experienced driver or a recent CDL graduate ready to start your trucking career. Applicants can apply at by filling the application at the careers page of their website.