Warning for truckers/trucking schools: Fake recruiters promise jobs but steal money

Scam alert! Fraudsters posing as recruiters for large trucking companies are contacting CDL drivers and truck schools asking for a “financial solvency” deposit on jobs

We wanted to pass this alert along to all the commercial vehicle drivers who are regular readers of our blog.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently issued an alert for CDL truck drivers and trucking schools to be wary of an elaborate scam designed to dupe them out of money.

Here’s how the scam works: a fraudulent caller identifying himself as a “recruiter” for a known and reputable trucking company contacts CDL drivers who have recently graduated trucking school, or contacts the school directly.  The fraudster claims that there is an immediate need for truck drivers. The caller then goes on to explain that there is a waiver for DUIs or other criminal convictions which are more than 2 years old.

From there, the caller asks for money – usually in the amount of $350 or more.  The deposit is required to prove the truck driver’s “financial solvency.”  The recruiter provides instructions about how to get the money to him; usually by way of money order.  After the money is sent, the trucker is then directed to go to some other location to be picked up – only the pick-up never happens – and the money is long gone.

This story is believable, given the current shortage of truck drivers in the country.

Let’s break this down together.

First of all, for your own knowledge, regarding this “waiver” of DWIs,  most good and reputable trucking companies will not hire CDL drivers who have DWIs within at least the past three years.  This is because their insurance carriers are reluctant to insure truck drivers with DWIs because of the risk.

In fact,  in many states you cannot even obtain a CDL if you have a DWI on your driving record within the past three years.

And while some job recruiters do on occasion contact trucking schools for recruitment purposes, it is highly unusual for a recruiter to contact a CDL driver directly.

What to do if you’re contacted by a truck driver job recruiter

The FMCSA has suggested that if you are contacted by one of these “recruiters,” try the following:

• Call the company the recruiter purports to represent.
• Verify that the recruiter actually works for that company.
• Verify that the recruiter is authorized to offer you a job position.

A simple 10-minute phone call could save you time, frustration and money.