Can you get a CDL-A job with a DUI, tickets or an accident?
What carriers really check, how long things count, and what the carriers we recruit for allow.
A past DUI, a few tickets or an accident does not automatically end a trucking career. But every carrier draws the line in a different place, and applying to the wrong one wastes weeks. Here is how it works, with real numbers from the 48 carriers we recruit for.
The legal side first
Federal rules (49 CFR 383.51) disqualify a CDL holder for a set time after certain offenses. A first DUI while holding a CDL, in any vehicle, means at least one year without commercial driving privileges (three years if you were hauling placarded hazmat). A second one means a lifetime disqualification, which some states allow you to reduce after 10 years. Your state may add its own rules.
Being legally allowed to drive again is the minimum. Carriers and their insurance companies then set their own, stricter limits.
DUI: what the carriers we work with allow
| How long ago the DUI must be | Carriers |
|---|---|
| 3 years | 3 |
| 5 years | 27 |
| 7 to 8 years | 5 |
| 10 years | 3 |
| Not accepted at all | 5 |
| Reviewed case by case | 5 |
So a DUI older than five years still leaves most doors open. Many carriers also ask whether it happened in a commercial vehicle (often a permanent no) and how many you have (usually a maximum of one).
Moving violations (tickets)
Most carriers count moving violations in the last three years. Among the carriers we recruit for, 23 accept up to three, 14 accept up to two, and a few accept four. Serious violations, like reckless driving, speeding 15+ mph over the limit or following too closely, often count more heavily or disqualify on their own.
Accidents
What matters is whether the accident was preventable and DOT-recordable. Many carriers accept one preventable accident in three years; some accept none for newer drivers. A non-preventable accident usually does not count against you, but bring the paperwork.
Failed or refused drug test
A failed or refused DOT test goes into the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, and you cannot drive a commercial vehicle until you finish the return-to-duty process. Even after that, 15 of our carriers do not hire drivers with a past SAP program, while others review it. See our guide on the SAP return-to-duty process.
What to do
- Know your record. Order your MVR from your state and your PSP report. Your record is what the carrier sees, not what you remember.
- Be upfront with your recruiter. We only send you to carriers where you can actually be hired. Hiding something only gets you rejected after the background check.
- Apply where the rules fit you. One honest phone call saves you five rejected applications.
Carrier rules change. The numbers above reflect the carriers we recruit for as of the date this page was updated, not all carriers.
Have a question about a specific job?
Text (307) 218-3831 or send the short form. A recruiter will help you compare.