[Powellc76]

Hello, My question is simple.
I am hopefully going to work as an OTR driver with a company that delivers into Canada on occasion. I have a Felony that is over 10 years old, (I received Probation and that ended over 10 years ago.) Is this going to be a problem for me? I would hate to waste the company's time, and mine by them bringing me in for this job and then having to send me home for a disqualification. The Company only asks for criminal history going back 10 years, so I don't really want to bring this up if I don't have to.
Umm.. any other info..?
It was a possession of cocaine, first time offender, no other problems after that.
Please help!!

[twinkiedooter]

Unfortunately this conviction will prove to be a problem for you unless you confess this to your prospective employer. I know of several OTR drivers who have felonies from traffic tickets (going over the legal limit by so many miles per hour for professional drivers is a felony) and they could not go into Canada. The company they worked for didn't think anything of it and just didn't send them to Canada. If you'd rather not tell them about it then you'll be wasting their time and your time as you will be gone over with a fine tooth comb when you are at the Canadian border waiting with your truck trying to enter. You will be turned back.

I not only know this from working for trucking companies and I also lived on a big truck for over a year OTR for over 130,000 miles.

[Powellc76]

Unfortunately this conviction will prove to be a problem for you unless you confess this to your prospective employer. I know of several OTR drivers who have felonies from traffic tickets (going over the legal limit by so many miles per hour for professional drivers is a felony) and they could not go into Canada. The company they worked for didn't think anything of it and just didn't send them to Canada. If you'd rather not tell them about it then you'll be wasting their time and your time as you will be gone over with a fine tooth comb when you are at the Canadian border waiting with your truck trying to enter. You will be turned back.

I not only know this from working for trucking companies and I also lived on a big truck for over a year OTR for over 130,000 miles.

Thank you, I do Believe that Honesty IS the best policy but, I didn't want to be turned down for a job by admitting to something that would have been irrelevant. I will just call and explain the situation the driver recruiter and hope for the best.
I also have been a driver for quite some time, 600,000+ miles. But the company I was previously employed with (that went out of Business) didn't deliver to Canada so it was never an issue.

[twinkiedooter]

You can discuss this with the recruiter and tell him the truth. If you are a good driver and have an excellent driving record they just may still offer you the job. But if that company delivers to Canada a lot you just might be left out having to deliver there. I know jobs are tough to get but there are numerous trucking companies out there who don't go to Canada in case that company declines to hire you. In any event, good luck!

[JudyKayTee]

I would first contact the Canadian authorities and ASK if you are excluded. Here is the info (which I have posted before):

"To begin, in Canada a DUI is a felony and therefore an excludable offense under the Immigration Act. A DUI is an indictable offense in Canada that may be punished by imprisonment for up to a 5 year term.

Anyone with a conviction in the United States that is treated as a felony or indictable offense in Canada is excludable from Canada, but even if the offense is not a felony or indictable offense in Canada, Customs and Immigration Officers have ultimate authority to permit and deny entry to Canada.

Almost all convictions (including DUI, DWI, reckless driving, negligent driving, misdemeanor drug possession, all felonies, domestic violence (assault IV), shoplifting, theft, etc) can make a person inadmissible to Canada, regardless of when they occurred. For this reason, it is not recommended that persons with past convictions attempt to enter Canada without first obtaining necessary documents. It is always the final decision of officers at ports of entry to decide whether a person should be allowed into Canada."

[panther100]

I went to Canada in 2005 then, CBP ask me for my record and I told them the truth, it was possetion of cocaine but had no sentence and the Canadian officer let me in.

[JudyKayTee]

2005 was 12 years ago - I posted the current law and procedure.