How Will A DUI Affect My Transportation Job?

A Valdosta school bus driver was recently charged on 45 counts of DUI (a child endangerment charge for each child aboard.) A Georgia truck driver was terminated, after being deemed an "imminent hazard" to public safety following his DUI crash. It is evident that DUIs can be detrimental to one's career, especially for those employed in the field of transportation. For these people, a DUI conviction could directly hinder future employment endeavors, and thereby their livelihood.

Many Americans have to operate motor vehicles in their line of work. The rising popularity of apps like Uber and Lyft have contributed to that figure in recent years. When charged with a DUI, many fear the prospective loss of their license because it allows for transportation to their job, whereas those employed in transportation require a license to do their job.

This includes bus, tram, subway and semi truck drivers of course, but the reach extends to rideshare drivers, postal workers, chauffeurs, pizza delivery drivers, and a smattering of other professions that require driving in any capacity. A DUI conviction would not only be frowned upon by future employers, it could be grounds for their outright refusal to hire you. If you are facing DUI charges and are in one of the following professions, here are some basics you should be aware of:

1. Truck Drivers - Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has overarching regulations governing the profession, policy varies a bit company to company. Most will still hire someone with a DUI on record, so long as the DUI is at least 3-7 years old. You will not lose your CDL with a first conviction. The FMCSA will permanently revoke a CDL after a second DUI conviction.
2. Rideshare (Über/Lyft) Drivers - With a conviction, you can not drive for these ridesharing companies. To pass Uber or Lyft's background check during the hiring process, the prospective driver must have no DUIs or reckless driving convictions on record. The Uber background check reaches back seven years, so convictions older than seven years should be in the clear. If your conviction is expunged by means of completed probation, paid restitution, or completed court programs for example, then you may be eligible to drive for a ride-sharing app again.
3. Postal Workers - Unlike a reckless driving conviction which is irrelevant to the USPS after 3 to 5 years, a DUI conviction will result in termination or disqualification in the hiring process. A pending DUI is also grounds for disqualification, even though a conviction remains to be seen. A DUI is the only offense for which the USPS will disqualify candidates while a charge is pending, indicating the gravity with which the offense is viewed.

Exceptional legal representation can be the difference between a charge and a conviction. A DUI conviction can completely undermine one's efforts to secure gainful employment in the field of transportation. If you have been charged with a DUI, it is imperative that you seek a skilled DUI defense attorney right away so they may review defend your charges. Do not let a conviction govern your future, contact Georgia DUI Attorney Richard Lawson for a free consultation.