Michael A. Ferraro, Esq., P.C.

Is my commercial driving career over after getting a DWI?

On Behalf of | Feb 17, 2021 | DWI defense |

If you are a commercial truck driver with a CDL, getting arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) has many negative repercussions on your career. Due to the havoc that can be wreaked in a wreck with a large, commercial truck, the industry takes a hard stance against impaired drivers behind the wheels of big rigs.

All that is well and good, but if you are a trucker with a family to support, you don’t want to watch your lucrative career blow away in the wind because of a single lapse in good judgment. 

What are your options?

Truckers arrested on DWI charges should do all that they can to fight those charges in court. A criminal defense attorney who represents CDL holders on DWI charges may be able to win an acquittal or get the charges tossed out of court on a technicality.

Some companies offer second chances

If your trucking company employer terminated your employment after your arrest for drunk driving (even on your own time), you may be discouraged and frustrated. But there is some good news on the horizon because some companies will hire commercial truck drivers after their arrest for DWI.

Never lie about your arrest record

You may be tempted to omit that you were arrested and/or convicted on DWI charges when applying for commercial driving jobs. Resist that impulse, however. With centrally linked computer records, it is impossible not to get caught in the lie. You can then be dismissed on the basis of the lie on your application.

Whatever the situation, it’s smart to seek out an experienced defense attorney as quickly as possible. That’s the best way to protect your rights, your career and your future.