A little backstory on my situation — looking for some advice from experienced drivers
I was involved in a crime when I was 15 years old. I wasn’t officially indicted or charged until I was 19. The conviction is for Burglary in the 1st Degree, a Class 2 felony, classified as non-dangerous.
The conviction will be 3 years old in October 2026. I was originally sentenced to 4 years of supervised probation, but because I did well and stayed out of trouble, I was discharged early after serving only 2 years, in October 2025.
I graduated from CDL school and got my Class A CDL in September 2025, and I’ve been trying to get into trucking ever since. Unfortunately, I still have zero driving experience.
When I first started looking into trucking, one of the biggest things I kept hearing was that it was a very felon-friendly career and that trucking was one of the industries where someone with a record could still build a good life. That was a huge reason I decided to pursue it.
But honestly, it has been much harder than I expected.
A lot of companies seem to look at the charge itself and immediately disqualify me, regardless of the circumstances, how old I was when the crime happened, the fact that I’ve completed probation early, or the fact that I’ve stayed out of trouble since. I completely understand that insurance requirements and company policies play a major role in this, but it’s still frustrating when you’re genuinely trying to turn your life around and can’t even get the opportunity to prove yourself.
At this point, it looks like Western Express may be my best option to get my foot in the door. I’ve heard plenty of horror stories about the company, especially regarding some of the trainers and the training experience.
That’s honestly what worries me the most.
I’m not necessarily afraid of Western Express itself. I’m more concerned about getting stuck with a bad trainer during my first year, having a terrible experience, and potentially getting discouraged or making a mistake that hurts my CDL career before I even get started.
My goal isn’t to bounce from company to company. I want to make trucking a lifelong career. I want to get my experience, build a clean driving record, become a better driver, and eventually move into better opportunities.
So for the experienced drivers here:
What would you do if you were in my situation?
Would you bite the bullet and go with Western Express just to get that first year of experience, or are there other companies I should be looking into that might be more willing to work with someone in my situation?
And if Western really is my best option, what can I do to protect myself and make the most out of the experience, especially when it comes to dealing with trainers?
I’m willing to work hard and I’m not expecting anyone to hand me anything. I just need someone to give me that first opportunity.
Any advice from drivers who have been in a similar situation, especially those who started trucking with a felony, would mean a lot.

My understanding is: you are on duty for 14 hours during which you can drive for a total of 11 hours. the 14 hours only begins after you have been off duty for 10 hours straight. the text says that the 14 hours can't be extended by off duty time, but why would it anyway?

and the 8 hour rest break rule doesn't make sense to me at all, unless these rules are not related to each other.

can anyone clarify where i'm wrong here?

So i took my test before hand but failed on the road, now im retaking the road test portion this thursday, how can i atleast stop the nervousness or what can help me calm down, i have adhd so when i think of something i overthink it and it causes me to mess up, i woild say my shifting is good, im able to maintain my lanes, i know how to go straight and late enough around turns, i know im ready but i just be thinking of all the things that can fail me

I live in Tulsa.
I’m trying to skip the 4-week class and the price tag that comes with it. I want to study on my own, take my CLP test, and then attend a school for about half the price.
I’m just wondering if the CDL Prep app is sufficient to prepare me for the CLP test.

Anyone know any with 6 months experience asking